Saudi Defense Minister Lauds Strategic Partnership with Pakistan

The Pakistani President awarded Prince Khalid the highest civilian award in Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan). SPA
The Pakistani President awarded Prince Khalid the highest civilian award in Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan). SPA
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Saudi Defense Minister Lauds Strategic Partnership with Pakistan

The Pakistani President awarded Prince Khalid the highest civilian award in Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan). SPA
The Pakistani President awarded Prince Khalid the highest civilian award in Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan). SPA

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met on Saturday with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad.

During the meeting that was held upon the Saudi leadership's directives, the Pakistani President awarded Prince Khalid the highest civilian award in Pakistan (Nishan-e-Pakistan), in recognition of his efforts in enhancing relations between the two countries.

The Minister expressed his gratitude for being awarded the medal, emphasizing the deep historical ties and relations between the two countries, and commending their strategic partnership.

Afterwards, the Saudi Minister and the Pakistani President held a meeting to review the historical relations between the two countries, and discussed ways to enhance them.

Additionally, the Saudi Minister attended the military parade in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, as the guest of honor for Pakistan Day celebrations.

Prince Khalid also met with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

They discussed the deep-rooted Saudi-Pakistani relations and ways to enhance them within the Riyadh-Islamabad strategic partnership.

They also discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts to achieve peace and stability.

In a separate meeting, the Saudi Minister of Defense met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army General Asim Munir, with whom he discussed the longstanding close relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the strategic defense partnership and opportunities for its development to achieve the aspirations of the leadership of the two countries.

They also addressed a number of regional and international issues of common interest.



Trump Says May Visit Saudi Arabia Next Month

US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
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Trump Says May Visit Saudi Arabia Next Month

US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to visit Saudi Arabia as early as May in what will be the first foreign trip of his second term, with stops also planned in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"It could be next month, maybe a little later," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Four sources briefed on the matter said mid-May was being looked at as the timing for the trip. Trump made Saudi Arabia and Israel the initial stops on his inaugural foreign trip during his first term in 2017.

Topics likely to be discussed include Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza, one source said.

Saudi Arabia has played a prominent role in US foreign policy, including hosting US ceasefire talks with Russia and Ukraine.

"An opportunity for international travel for the president is something that is being looked at. We don’t yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," a White House official said ahead of Trump's remarks.