Joint Statement Following the Saudi-US Summit: Multiple Agreements and MOUs Signed

President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Joint Statement Following the Saudi-US Summit: Multiple Agreements and MOUs Signed

President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of the official visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, to the United States of America. The following is the text of the statement according to the Saudi Press Agency:

In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in response to the gracious invitation of President Donald Trump of the United States of America, and within the framework of the historic relations and strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, paid an official working visit to the United States from November 18 to 19, 2025.

President Trump received the Crown Prince at the White House. The Crown Prince conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the US president, who in turn asked the Crown Prince to convey his greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Crown Prince and the US president held the Saudi–US Summit, during which both sides reaffirmed their deep commitment to the historic bonds of friendship and the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the United States. They also discussed ways to enhance the partnership across all fields.

Attending the Saudi–US Summit on the Saudi side were Minister of Energy and Chairman of the Saudi side of the Saudi–US Strategic Economic Partnership Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Kassabi; Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan; and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan.

From the US side, attendees included Vice President J.D. Vance; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth; Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright; and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

The Crown Prince highlighted the positive results of President Trump’s visit to the Kingdom in May 2025, which elevated the strategic relationship between the two friendly nations to an unprecedented historical level under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President Trump.

Both sides reviewed the latest developments of mutual concern and exchanged views on regional and international issues, in addition to discussing efforts to strengthen aspects of the strategic partnership.

The visit witnessed the signing of several agreements and frameworks, including the Strategic Defense Agreement, the Strategic Partnership for Artificial Intelligence, the Joint Statement on the completion of negotiations regarding cooperation in civil nuclear energy, the strategic framework for cooperation in securing supply chains for uranium, permanent magnets, and critical minerals, the strategic framework for facilitating procedures to accelerate Saudi investments, the Financial and Economic Partnership Arrangements, arrangements related to cooperation in the financial markets sector, mutual recognition of US federal vehicle safety standards, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of education and training.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also hosted a state dinner in honor of the Crown Prince, attended by senior US officials, members of Congress, and business leaders.

The Crown Prince and President Trump additionally participated in the US–Saudi Investment Forum, during which numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding valued at approximately $270 billion were announced.

The Crown Prince also met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson and several members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Crown Prince expressed his appreciation to President Trump for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation.

President Trump conveyed his best wishes of health and well-being to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and to the Crown Prince, wishing the Saudi people continued progress and prosperity.



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.