Djibouti’s Defense Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Welcome Saudi Military Base

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Djibouti Minister of Defense Ali Hasan Bahdon in Riyadh in April. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Djibouti Minister of Defense Ali Hasan Bahdon in Riyadh in April. (SPA)
TT

Djibouti’s Defense Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Welcome Saudi Military Base

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Djibouti Minister of Defense Ali Hasan Bahdon in Riyadh in April. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Djibouti Minister of Defense Ali Hasan Bahdon in Riyadh in April. (SPA)

Djibouti’s defense minister, Ali Bahdon, welcomed the presence of a Saudi military base in his country, pointing out that the relationship with Riyadh exceeded military cooperation, to reach historical, ideological and cultural ties.

He added that the military agreement between the two sides has many aspects of cooperation, including the Joint Military Commission, which meets every few months, as well as supporting and strengthening the military forces in Djibouti.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Bahdon said that Saudi experts had arrived in Djibouti to assess military cooperation, and that trainees and students from Djibouti were studying in military colleges in the Kingdom.

“There are historical, ideological and cultural relations with the Kingdom, and we are one people who share the same values, and we have the same issues and problems; relations are much greater now, as we are in a new phase of geopolitical changes in the region,” he stated.

Asked about the building of a Saudi military base in Djibouti, Bahdon replied: “As you know, in terms of cooperation, there is a military agreement signed between the two sides. This agreement has many aspects, including the Joint Military Commission.”

He noted in this regard that the military base was part of comprehensive cooperation and the “relationship between the two countries is not limited to the base, but it is even greater.”

On whether the establishment of the Saudi military base would contribute to combating smuggling across the sea, the defense minister stressed that it would not be the solution to this matter, as “it has limits in which it operates and powers that serve specific goals.”

“Therefore, when we talk about military cooperation, it is a comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries in various military aspects, not in a specific sector and role,” he explained.

He blamed the economic, social and security situation for the migration outflow in the countries neighboring Djibouti, noting that these factors had affected migrants in various nearby countries.

“We believe that the development of countries suffering from migration would be the cornerstone for curbing this problem,” Bahdon stated, underlining a common vision between the Kingdom and Djibouti and a determination to work together and achieve security and stability in the region.

On whether Djibouti was exchanging information with Yemen to prevent arms smuggling to Bab al-Mandab, the minister said: “Djibouti is a member of the Arab alliance, and it is coordinating with the different concerned parties. It is also a country that has received many refugees from regional states, especially from Yemen. The country has incurred major losses due to migration.”

Commenting on the outcome of the first meeting of the Islamic Alliance to Counter Terrorism, Bahdon replied: “The next phase will see further development and improvement of this strategy, which was launched with the first meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism, and here we congratulate Saudi Arabia on this meeting and the important initiative” launched in this regard.



UK Seeks to Strengthen Cooperation with Saudi Arabia in Innovation, Technology, and Clean Energy

UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology visits King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC)
UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology visits King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC)
TT

UK Seeks to Strengthen Cooperation with Saudi Arabia in Innovation, Technology, and Clean Energy

UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology visits King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC)
UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology visits King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC)

A senior UK official has revealed London’s plan to deepen its partnership with Riyadh in the fields of innovation and technology, as well as clean energy and hydrogen technologies. He emphasized that the United Kingdom is working to establish a high-level partnership with Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to the Kingdom, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle stressed that the UK wants “to continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia to bring together our science and tech expertise so we can ensure potentially game-changing innovations can benefit both our nations."

"The UK and Saudi Arabia are natural partners in these areas, with shared ambitions when it comes to both innovation and our strengths in science and technology. Right across the world, breakthrough technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology are starting to transform our economies and societies," noted Kyle.

He also revealed: "With Saudi Arabia we of course laid the foundation for that work through our joint energy partnership, launched in January 2022 and further strengthened during the Prime Minister’s visit to Riyadh in December. We have made becoming a clean energy superpower one of our key government missions, and the growing demand for clean energy is a massive shared opportunity—for growth, for green jobs, and for enhanced energy security.

He pointed out: "By further building the commercial and investment ties between our two countries, we can drive research and innovation and build the skills we need to continue the net-zero transition—benefitting us all."

A Sustainable Partnership in New Technologies

Kyle stated that during his short visit, "I have had the enormous privilege to visit King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center– where the first robotic heart transplant was successfully carried out in January this year – and where I was able to meet those medics responsible and even try out the technology myself. I was also able to visit King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and The Garage and see for myself the incredible energy of the start up ecosystem in the Kingdom and hear about how companies are learning from each other."

The British minister noted that these technologies will "unlock improvements in our health, lead to cleaner and more sustainable ways of getting the energy we need, and will spark economic growth that everyone feels the benefit of."

Seizing Opportunities

Kyle said that "Saudi Arabia, and indeed countries right across the Gulf, have incredible aspirations for the development of their economies and societies and are fully aware of the role of science and technology in helping to realize those aspirations."

He continued: "Thanks to emerging technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology, the world stands on the cusp of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. We in the UK are moving fast to harness these opportunities, and have kick started 2025 with a call to action so we can build partnerships with companies all over the globe."

"Whether that’s helping us to deliver AI Growth Zones as set out in our new blueprint for AI, or kick starting a fund of up to £520 million to encourage life sciences manufacturing, the message I’m delivering to nations across the Gulf this week is that Britain is open for business," he stressed.

The Future of Clean Energy Cooperation

According to Kyle, “Cooperation around clean energy is a key and growing part of our relationships with Gulf partners, including Saudi Arabia. We work increasingly closely across a range of clean energy technologies including hydrogen, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), energy efficiency, and on how digital technologies can be used to make energy generation cleaner."

He added: "It has been a privilege to meet with members of the Saudi government today and I'm going to be speaking with nations across the Gulf this week. The message I’m sending out is clear: the opportunities of partnering with the UK are huge and the opportunities we have to learn from the Gulf states are just as great. "

He continued: "Whether that’s through accelerating the transition to net-zero, harnessing the impact of AI for everyone’s benefit, or realizing new advances in healthcare and life sciences - these all represent once-in-a-generation opportunities."

Kyle affirmed that "the UK has the chance to lead the world in these sectors, and I’m very excited by the potential of working alongside countries like Saudi Arabia who match that ambition."