Kuwait, Iran FMs Affirm Commitment to Sustaining Dialogue, Supporting Stability

Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement (Kuwait Foreign Ministry)
Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement (Kuwait Foreign Ministry)
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Kuwait, Iran FMs Affirm Commitment to Sustaining Dialogue, Supporting Stability

Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement (Kuwait Foreign Ministry)
Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement (Kuwait Foreign Ministry)

Iran and Kuwait affirmed the importance of boosting cooperation to maintain the region's security, safety, and stability, stressing the need for preserving dialogue between them.

Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement members in Azerbaijan.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting addressed the new regional and international developments and focused on the talks launched in Kuwait during the Iranian minister's recent visit last month.

The foreign ministers stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation to preserve the security and safety of the region, while asserting the need to continue dialogue and support all efforts that would improve regional and international stability.

The meeting comes after an escalation in the gas-rich offshore Durra field case after Iran hinted there were "full preparations to start drilling."

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad al-Barrak affirmed that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have an agreement over the gas field.

He told "Asharq News" on the sidelines of the 8th OPEC International Seminar that they must demarcate the border, urging Iran to enter "the demarcation of international borders, and after that, whoever has a right will get it according to the rules of international law."

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have an understanding regarding the Durra field, said the minister, adding that it was early to talk about production levels in the region shared with the Kingdom.

Kuwait stressed that the Durra field is a shared Kuwaiti-Saudi natural wealth, and no other party has any rights in it until the demarcation of the maritime borders is resolved.

"We categorically reject Iran's planned activities around the premises of the Durra offshore gas field," said Barrak.

On Monday, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry confirmed that the marine area in which the Durra field is in the marine area of Kuwait, that the natural resources are shared with Saudi Arabia, and that they have exclusive rights to the natural wealth in the field.

An official source in the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the country renewed its call to the Iranian side to enter the demarcation talks with the Kuwaiti and Saudi sides as one negotiating party.

On Tuesday, an informed source in the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that ownership of the natural resources in the divided submerged area, including the entire Durra field, is shared between the Kingdom and the State of Kuwait only.

He told Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait exclusively own natural wealth, including the Durra gas field, in the Gulf's maritime "Divided Area."

Saudi Arabia renewed its calls for Iran to start negotiations to demarcate the eastern border divided between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as one negotiating party.



Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
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Libya’s Unity Gov. Urges Stronger Partnership with Saudi Arabia on Development Projects

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah during his meeting with members of the Saudi delegation (Dbeibah's Office)

Libya’s Government of National Unity has called for strengthening partnerships with Saudi Arabia in development projects.

The appeal came during a meeting on Thursday between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Amiantit Group.

The group is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacturing of pipes and tanks, offering innovative solutions for water management and infrastructure.

The meeting was also attended by a representative of Technical Link Services for Communications (TLS), a subsidiary of Etihad Salam Telecommunications, which specializes in communications and information technology solutions.

Discussions centered on strengthening Libyan-Saudi cooperation to advance infrastructure projects, stimulate investment in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and expand prospects for collaboration.

The meeting followed agreements with Libya’s Ministry of Housing and Construction on water infrastructure, specialized factories, and advanced water treatment solutions.

The agreements also included deals that aim to upgrade Libya’s communications infrastructure and modernize its IT and telecom services.

In January, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dbeibah had outlined Libya’s vision to strengthen cooperation with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia to attract international investment across various economic and development sectors.

He discussed with several Saudi officials ways to reinforce bilateral partnerships in oil, gas, and renewable energy, highlighting Saudi Arabia as a key partner in developing Libya’s oil infrastructure.


Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
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Saudi-Emirati Team in Aden to Restore Calm in Eastern Yemen

A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)
A view of Yemen's interim capital Aden. (Reuters file)

A Saudi-Emirati team arrived in Yemen’s interim capital Aden on an urgent mission to put in place executive mechanisms for the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces from the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and returning them under the control of previous forces under the direct supervision of the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

The team will discuss arrangements related to the handover of positions to the National Shield Forces to ensure that the situation returns to the way it was before the escalation.

The step is in line with Saudi Arabia’s intense efforts to end the escalation in eastern Yemen, in rejection of any unilateral measures taken by the STC in Hadhramaut, which the coalition viewed as an attempt to impose a new status quo or drag the province into internal strife that threatens peace and stability.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrival of the team consolidates Riyadh’s rejection of activities that may create mistrust or deepen the divisions inside Yemen’s legitimate institutions.


UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
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UN Secretary General Visits Saudi Digital Government Authority's Innovation Hub in Riyadh

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with officials at the Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh on Friday. (SPA)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and his accompanying delegation visited on Friday Saudi Arabia’s Innovation Hub of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in Riyadh.

He met with DGA Governor Eng. Ahmed Alsuwaiyan. Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil was also present during the visit.

The officials discussed issues of mutual interest, including digital government development, support for innovation, and the enhancement of sustainable digital transformation ecosystems. They reviewed the Kingdom's efforts in digital enablement to support the Sustainable Development Goals and improve government sector efficiency.

The meeting addressed avenues for cooperation between the DGA and UN organizations, particularly in knowledge exchange, the development of digital standards, the enablement of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, the enhancement of digital capabilities, and the building of partnerships to improve the quality of digital services internationally.

Guterres was briefed on the DGA Innovation Hub, which houses a range of specialized laboratories and facilities, such as the Digital Inclusion Lab, Service Design Lab, Learning Experience Lab, and AI and Emerging Technologies Lab, along with other resources supporting innovation and the development of government digital solutions.

The DGA team presented an overview of the Kingdom's digital government strategy and progress in UN e-government development indicators, reflecting the maturity of the national digital experience and the advancement of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure.

Guterres commended the Kingdom's qualitative progress in digital government, stressing that the level achieved represents a leading international model and reflects a clear commitment to developing innovative and effective government services.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation to support initiatives that foster an advanced digital future in service of global development.