Saudi Govt: Crown Prince Mohammed’s Visit to US Bolsters the Strategic Partnership

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt: Crown Prince Mohammed’s Visit to US Bolsters the Strategic Partnership

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government said on Tuesday the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States aims to strengthen bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries across various fields, while striving to achieve their shared vision for a secure and stable Middle East.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh.

The Cabinet reviewed the two messages received by the Crown Prince from South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Cabinet discussed the Kingdom's participation in regional and international meetings, reiterating Saudi Arabia's emphasis at the 42nd meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interior Ministers on the importance of integrated joint action to confront security challenges.

This commitment aims to protect homelands and societies while boosting opportunities for development and prosperity in the region.

The Cabinet commended the Kingdom's global pronouncements in the tourism sector, most notably the Riyadh Declaration adopted during the 26th session of the United Nations Tourism Organization General Assembly. The declaration serves as a roadmap for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the sector and is considered a key driver of national growth.

The Cabinet expressed its appreciation for the Crown Prince’s patronage of the fourth edition of the Global AI Summit that will be held in the Kingdom in 2026. The patronage is part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to make innovation and digital transformation fundamental pillars for building a sustainable and globally competitive knowledge-based economy.

The Cabinet praised the Digital Government Forum held in Riyadh, which showcased innovative and high-quality initiatives supported by artificial intelligence technologies. It also commended the significant progress made by government entities in measuring digital transformation and the adequacy of digital content for 2025, reflecting the continued development of services provided to citizens, residents, and visitors.

The Cabinet praised the integration of national efforts in developing local content and contributing to raising the localization rate of military spending to 24.89% by the end of 2024, thus reinforcing the continuous progress in the localization process in this sector to reach more than 50% by 2030.



Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
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Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)

The joint military "Gulf Shield Exercise 2026" concluded in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with the participation of the air forces and air-defense forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, alongside the GCC Unified Military Command, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exercise was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional defense cooperation and enhance combat readiness.

Its maneuvers included advanced operational scenarios featuring simulations of multidimensional air and missile threats, joint air maneuvers, and integrated field exercises, with a focus on improving operational integration, strengthening command-and-control systems, and enhancing operational efficiency within a joint operational environment.
The exercise seeks to develop qualitative military capabilities, bolster combat readiness to confront current, emerging, and future threats, and entrench the concepts of collective defense and flexible deterrence, thereby contributing to the region's security and stability.

Gulf Shield Exercise 2026 is regarded as one of the key pillars of military cooperation among GCC countries, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance defense integration and strengthen the capacity to respond to regional and international challenges.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the participating forces carried out a joint aerial display that demonstrated a high level of harmony and operational integration, as well as their ability to plan and execute in accordance with unified operational concepts and advanced professional standards.


Saudi Arabia Expresses Deep Regret over Damage to Qatari Embassy in Kyiv

 Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Expresses Deep Regret over Damage to Qatari Embassy in Kyiv

 Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 9, 2026. (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Saturday the Kingdom’s deep regret over the damage sustained by the Qatari Embassy in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as a result of recent shelling.

The ministry stressed the need to protect diplomatic missions and their personnel in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The ministry reiterated the Kingdom's support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian crisis through peaceful means.


Khalid bin Salman Says Saudi Arabia Supporting 'Real Path' for Southern Yemen Cause

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (SPA)
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Khalid bin Salman Says Saudi Arabia Supporting 'Real Path' for Southern Yemen Cause

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (SPA)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman announced on Friday that the Kingdom will form a committee to prepare for the conference Riyadh will host on southern Yemen.

The committee will be formed in consultation with southern Yemen figures, he added, saying the meeting will bring together southerners from all southern regions without discrimination.

The Kingdom will support the outcomes of the conference that will be on a dialogue table that will tackle a comprehensive political solution for the whole of Yemen, he said on the X platform.

He stressed that through the Riyadh conference, the Southern Cause now has a "real path forward that is being sponsored by Saudi Arabia and backed by the international community."

"We are seeking to bring together our southern brothers at the conference to come up with just comprehensive solutions that meet their aspirations," continued Prince Khalid.

Moreover, he noted the Yemeni Southern Transitional Council's decision to dissolve itself, describing the move as "brave" and "reflecting a keenness on the Southern Cause". It will encourage more figures from the South to take part in the conference.