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Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Underscore Joint Rights to Durra Field Resources

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah received the credentials of the new Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi. (Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah received the credentials of the new Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi. (Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Underscore Joint Rights to Durra Field Resources

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah received the credentials of the new Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi. (Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah received the credentials of the new Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi. (Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reaffirmed that the ownership of the natural resources in the divided submerged area in the Arabian Gulf, including the entire Al-Durra field, was joint ownership between the two countries.  

The two Gulf states renewed “their previous and repeated calls” to Iran to negotiate the eastern border of the submerged area divided between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as one negotiating party, and the Iranians as another party, in line with international law and the principles of good neighborliness, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  

Kuwait announced its readiness to take “any procedures or measures”, including negotiations to conclude international treaties and agreements, to guarantee the joint rights of the submerged Durra field, which contains huge amounts of gas.  

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Acting Minister of Finance Saad Al-Barrak said, in response to a parliamentary question on Thursday, that the Iranian claims regarding the Durra field “do not negate the validity of the facts on the ground, which confirm the joint ownership of the field by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”  

Al-Barrak confirmed that the Ministry of Oil was constantly coordinating and consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and providing it with all data and technical information in order to collect elements that would have an impact on Kuwait’s foreign policy with Iran regarding Al-Durra field.  

“The offshore Durra gas field was discovered in 1967 and is located entirely in the submerged area divided between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

He added that in March 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia concluded an agreement to develop the field through one company, with a capacity of one billion cubic feet and 84,000 barrels of condensate per day, based on the MoU signed between them on December 24, 2019.  

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah received a copy of the credentials of the new Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi, during a meeting that was held on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

A statement said the officials discussed bilateral relations, revealing that the Kuwaiti minister received a letter from his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, which included a formal invitation to visit Iran.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Bolsters Pakistan's Economic Stability with Deposit at Central Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi Arabia Bolsters Pakistan's Economic Stability with Deposit at Central Bank

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting the strong ties and ongoing cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia has continued its support to enhance Pakistan’s economic stability by extending the term of an existing $5 billion deposit at the State Bank of Pakistan and announcing an additional deposit of $3 billion.

This assistance aims at supporting Pakistan’s economy and strengthening its resilience amidst evolving global economic challenges, and comes in accordance with the leadership’s directives to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the two countries, SPA reported.

This also affirms the Kingdom's commitment to fostering the economic growth of Pakistan, which is expected to reflect positively on the living conditions of Pakistani citizens.

Gulf

GCC Secretary-General Meets with Top EU Officials in Brussels

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
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GCC Secretary-General Meets with Top EU Officials in Brussels

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi met on Thursday with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in Brussels.

Albudaiwi expressed appreciation to the European Parliament for its supportive stance towards the GCC countries, reflecting its firm commitment to the principles of international law.

The meeting addressed regional and international developments, the repercussions of Iranian attacks on Gulf states, and the direct threat these attacks pose to the security and stability of the region, the safety of international maritime navigation, and global energy supplies.

Metsola reiterated the European Parliament's support for the GCC countries against the attacks.

The two sides reviewed the GCC’s proposal for a parliamentary cooperation mechanism involving GCC legislative councils and the European Parliament, aimed at enhancing consultation, coordination, legislative cooperation, and institutional capacity to strengthen relations.

Albudaiwi also met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the implications of the regional escalation, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation and a lasting diplomatic solution, in addition to the importance of involving the GCC countries in any negotiation process, as they are a key party and are affected by the developments.

The meeting reviewed key issues, including follow-up on the outcomes of the first GCC-EU summit held in October 2024 in Brussels.

Both sides also discussed enhancing GCC-EU relations and reviewed progress on the Joint Work Program (2022-2027).

In his meetings on Thursday, Albudaiwi called on the European Union to play a more effective diplomatic role in mediating the conflict with Iran.

He stressed that GCC states base their international partnerships on national and strategic interests, maintaining balanced relations with Washington, Brussels, Beijing, and Moscow without aligning with any single bloc.
 

 

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Developments

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Developments

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, met on Wednesday with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah to review bilateral relations between the two countries. The discussions focused on existing areas of cooperation and opportunities to further strengthen and expand collaboration across various sectors.

The Crown Prince commended the PM's efforts in supporting Pakistan’s development and advancing the Saudi–Pakistani strategic partnership.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international developments, specifically focusing on the talks between the United States and Iran hosted by Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war that has swept the Middle East leading to a fragile temporary ceasefire and an initial round of talks in Islamabad.

The Crown Prince praised the diplomatic efforts of both Sharif and Chief of the Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; and Minister of State and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. On the Pakistani side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar was in attendance.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share strong ties, reinforced by a strategic agreement that treats an external attack on one as an attack on both.

Last month, Sharif praised Saudi Arabia for its “notable restraint” amid the ongoing hostilities and stressed the urgent need for de-escalation.

On March 9, the Saudi Crown Prince and Pakistan’s PM held a closed-door meeting during which Sharif expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and both sides agreed to promote regional peace and stability.