Moscow, October 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in and chair the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow on Monday, October 27, with discussions expected to focus on the global gas market, energy security and challenges facing the natural gas industry.
According to the Kremlin, the summit will be held at the International Trade Center in Moscow, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. local time. Putin will welcome the participating delegations before a group photograph, followed by the plenary session at 1:00 p.m., which he will chair.
The Russian president is expected to deliver the opening address, highlighting the importance of natural gas as a reliable energy source that supports economic growth. He will also discuss the challenges confronting the gas industry and outline priorities for addressing them.
Following his address, Putin will invite GECF Secretary General Philip Mshelbila and heads of delegations from member states to speak. Representatives of observer countries, including Mozambique, Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia and Senegal, are also expected to address the summit.
On the sidelines of the event, Putin is scheduled to hold five bilateral meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council Mohammad al-Menfi.
The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum is an intergovernmental organization established to strengthen cooperation and dialogue among gas-producing and exporting nations and promote stability and security in the global natural gas market. Its first ministerial meeting was held in Tehran in 2001.
The GECF comprises 12 member states: Russia, Iran, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
Eight countries participate as observers: Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Peru and Senegal.
According to the forum’s figures cited by TASS, its member states collectively account for approximately 70 per cent of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, 38 per cent of global gas production, 42 per cent of international gas exports and 47 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
The Moscow summit is expected to provide a platform for participating countries to exchange views on developments in the global energy sector and explore ways to strengthen cooperation amid evolving challenges in international gas markets.
