Riyadh Prepares to Host Strategic GCC Dialogues with Russia, India

Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
TT

Riyadh Prepares to Host Strategic GCC Dialogues with Russia, India

Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will meet in Riyadh on Monday for their 161st Ministerial Council. They will also hold joint separate meetings with their counterparts from Russia, India and Brazil.

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi said in August that the Ministerial Council will tackle several issues related to joint Gulf work, and regional and international developments.

The members of the council will hold a number of joint ministerial meetings with several countries to discuss cooperation and coordination and exchange views on regional and international developments.

The ministers will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the seventh GCC-Russia strategic dialogue. The two parties had previously underscored the importance of the dialogue between them to achieve common interests and deepen relations.

They had approved the Gulf-Russian 2023-2028 joint plan that is aimed at strengthening ties and exchanging expertise in several areas.

The parties last met in Moscow in July. They agreed to intensify efforts to achieve peace, security, stability and prosperity around the world.

They agreed to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of nations and to refrain from meddling in their internal affairs. They stressed the need to confront challenges and crises through peaceful means, prioritize dialogue and resolve conflicts through negotiations.

The meeting welcomed GCC efforts to pave the way for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

The GCC ministers will also meet with their Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the first ever between the two sides.

They will also hold joint talks with Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who was invited to Riyadh by Al Budawi during a visit to Brazil in June.

Officials are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding and joint work plan aimed at bolstering and developing relations between them.



Saudi Leadership Congratulates Head of Libya's Presidential Council on Independence Day

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. (SPA)
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. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Leadership Congratulates Head of Libya's Presidential Council on Independence Day

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. (SPA)
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. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Wednesday a cable of congratulations to head of Libya's Presidential Council Mohamed Al-Menfi on his country's Independence Day.

King Salman wished him continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of Libya further security and stability.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent Al-Menfi a similar cable on the occasion.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on Pakistani Police

Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on Pakistani Police

Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Wednesday the attack against Pakistani police in the Karak area in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

A Foreign Ministry statement, said the Kingdom “categorically rejects of all forms of terrorism and extremism,” condemning “attempts to undermine the security and stability of Pakistan and its people.”

It extended its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of Pakistan over the attack.

Suspected militants opened fire on a police vehicle in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing five officers before fleeing, officials said, part of a surge in violence in the region bordering Afghanistan.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, which is separate from but aligned with Afghanistan’s Taliban government and has been blamed by authorities for previous attacks.

Pakistan has seen a steady rise in militant violence, which has strained relations with Afghanistan.


Sultan of Oman, Saudi FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
TT

Sultan of Oman, Saudi FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik received in Muscat on Tuesday Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings 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, as well as their hopes for continued progress and prosperity to the Sultan and the Omani people.

Sultan Haitham sent his greetings and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, along with his wishes for further progress and prosperity for the government and people of the Kingdom.

Sultan Haitham and Prince Faisal reviewed the fraternal relations between their countries and discussed the latest regional and international developments.