Oman, Kuwait Support Stability, Dialogue to Tackle Regional Challenges

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
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Oman, Kuwait Support Stability, Dialogue to Tackle Regional Challenges

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah sign the MoU during their meeting on Monday. (ONA)

Oman and Kuwait stressed on Monday the importance of maintaining coordination and consultations, bolstering security and stability, and supporting dialogue and diplomacy to tackle challenges in the region.

The countries held the 11th session of the Oman-Kuwait Joint Committee in Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman. It was chaired by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

The meeting addressed the deep-rooted fraternal relations between their countries. The officials discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation in a number of fields to serve common interests, in translation of the aspirations of the wise leaderships of Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, reported Oman’s state news agency ONA.

Al Busaidi said that the meeting was held in implementation of the supreme directives of the leaderships of the two countries, calling for deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, and scientific fields, and exchanging expertise to achieve greater integration and partnership between Oman and Kuwait.

He pointed out that the regular convening of the joint committee reflects the attention and care it receives from the leaderships of both countries, and embodies the joint commitment to strengthening its role as an effective institutional framework to propel cooperative relations toward more advanced and comprehensive levels.

For his part, Sheikh Jarrah stressed that the two countries' celebration this year of the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations reflects the development and growth of their ties.

The FMs said that Omani-Kuwaiti relations are a model of sincere fraternal bonds among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

They signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of cybersecurity, and an executive program in the field of standardization.



UAE Denies Reports of Attack on Al Menhad Air Base

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi skyline, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi skyline, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
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UAE Denies Reports of Attack on Al Menhad Air Base

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi skyline, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi skyline, March 1, 2026. (AFP)

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defense denied on Monday media reports claiming that Al Menhad Air Base was targeted by missiles, confirming that such reports are false.  

The Ministry stressed that the Armed Forces remain on a high state of readiness to respond to any threats that may arise to safeguard the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability.  

The Ministry urged the public to rely on official sources for information and to refrain from spreading rumors or inaccurate information. 

Earlier, the Ministry said the UAE Air Force responded to a drone detected over the country’s territorial waters, approaching from Iran. 

It stressed that the Armed Forces remain on a high state of readiness to address any potential threats, while air defense systems continue to continuously monitor and safeguard the country’s airspace. 


Makkah Agreement: Strategic Political and Defense Committee Holds First Meeting in Istanbul

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 (Turkish Presidency) 
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 (Turkish Presidency) 
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Makkah Agreement: Strategic Political and Defense Committee Holds First Meeting in Istanbul

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 (Turkish Presidency) 
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 (Turkish Presidency) 

Istanbul will host on Monday the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.

Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said Sunday that the meeting would bring together the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three countries.

The Saudi delegation includes Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili. Türkiye will be represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.

Pakistan, for its part, will be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Meeting Agenda

According to the sources, the meeting aims to discuss international security issues, develop defense capabilities, enhance operational interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries and deepen cooperation in the defense industry, including joint production and research and development. It will also seek to strengthen joint counterterrorism efforts.

The sources added that the meeting is expected to establish a framework for the secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will guide work in areas of joint activity to be identified by the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, as well as draw up a road map for future steps.

The sources told the official Anadolu Agency that the meeting would provide an opportunity to reaffirm that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement offers significant opportunities for all countries in the region, with the aim of strengthening security, peace and stability, addressing issues in a spirit of security cooperation and prioritizing peace and prosperity over conflict.

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in Makkah on Aug. 7, marking a pivotal step toward a long-term partnership based on the principles of deterrence, coordination and defense integration among the three countries, contributing to security and stability in the region and the world.

The deal aims to strengthen security, peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world and bolster collective deterrence. It stipulates that any attack on one of the signatory countries will be considered an attack on all parties.

It further seeks to foster a new culture of cooperation in the region, is open to all parties that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.

US Welcome

US President Donald Trump expressed his strong support for the signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between the three countries, describing it as a “big, bold, and important first step.”

Writing on his Truth Social platform on Aug. 16, Trump said he was “very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement,” adding that it showed “how the Middle East is coming together, and how countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.”

 

 

 


Iran Says It Downed US Drone and Attacked an Air Base in the UAE

A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
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Iran Says It Downed US Drone and Attacked an Air Base in the UAE

A US MQ-9 drone (archive)
A US MQ-9 drone (archive)

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported on Monday, citing a statement by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, that Iran had shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz using air defense missiles, causing it to crash into Gulf waters.

Iranian state TV, meanwhile, cited a statement by the Iranian army as saying that the military attacked the United Arab Emirates' Al Minhad Air Base with drones early ‌on Monday.