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Khalid bin Salman Concludes Official Visit to Washington

Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in Pentagon on Thursday. AP
Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in Pentagon on Thursday. AP
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Khalid bin Salman Concludes Official Visit to Washington

Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in Pentagon on Thursday. AP
Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in Pentagon on Thursday. AP

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense, has left Washington on Friday, concluding his official visit to USA.

During the visit, he held meetings with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and a number of other US officials to discuss bilateral relations.

According to sources from the United States Department of Defense, the meeting in the Pentagon tackled increasing military cooperation and the Yemeni developments, in addition to security cooperation to ensure navigation in the Gulf.

In his first press conference since appointing him a secretary of defense, Esper affirmed that Washington is committed to defending its allies against Iranian threats.

He also stressed that Washington is communicating with a number of countries to ensure navigation in the Gulf.

Esper stated that the presence of the US and its allies in the region aims to hold back Iran’s attitudes and provocations.

He also lauded the UK, Australia and Bahrain for agreeing to join Operation Sentinel. Esper noted that more states would probably follow their lead and join the operation that helped calm the tension in the region.

Upon leaving for the Kingdom, Prince Khalid was seen off by Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, and a number of officials.

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Gulf

Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen Completes 91 Km of Al Abr Road Expansion

Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen Completes 91 Km of Al Abr Road Expansion

Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has completed the second phase of Al Abr Road expansion and rehabilitation project, extending 40 kilometers from Al-Duwaibi to Ghuwariban, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.

The first phase, covering 50 kilometers from Al-Duwaibi to Al Abr in Hadhramaut, was completed in May 2024, bringing the total completed length to 91 kilometers.

Al Abr Road is a vital part of Yemen's transportation network. It is an important route connecting three major governorates - Marib, Hadhramaut, and Shabwa - and serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The expansion and rehabilitation project is a significant contributor to bolstering economic and social development in Yemen, improving access to regional and international markets, and facilitating the movement of people and goods between the Kingdom and Yemen.

In a step reflecting the integration of development projects and initiatives offered through SDRPY to support the transportation sector, the program is also working on the rehabilitation of Al-Wadiah Border Crossing, one of the most important land crossings.

These two projects contribute to stimulating commercial and investment activity both through the crossing and in the surrounding areas along Al Abr Road. This underscores the program's vital role in supporting infrastructure, boosting economic activity, creating job opportunities, boosting trade between the two countries, and contributing to sustainable development in Yemen.

The Al-Wadiah Border Crossing rehabilitation project includes the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of existing ones, as well as infrastructure improvements such as roads, open spaces, site enhancements, surveillance systems, and strengthened water and power sources at the crossing.

The improvements aim to boost services for travelers and strengthen economic and trade relations between the two peoples.

SDRPY provides support to the transportation sector in Yemen through 31 comprehensive development projects and initiatives. These include the rehabilitation of airports, increasing the capacity of ports, and improving the efficiency of border crossings.

The program also includes the rehabilitation of approximately 150 kilometers of vital roads across various Yemeni governorates, which represent a significant contribution to the country's economy.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Concludes ‘Red Wave 8’ Exercise

Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
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Saudi Arabia Concludes ‘Red Wave 8’ Exercise

Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)

The “Red Wave 8” joint naval exercise concluded on Friday at Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Naval Base in the Western Fleet.

Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi, Director General of the Saudi Border Guards Major General Shaya bin Salem Al-Wadaani and several commanders of the participating forces attended the conclusion of the drill.

Naval and air forces and border guards took part in the drill. Participating countries included those overlooking the Red Sea, such as Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, Sudan and Yemen.

Forces took part in naval maneuvers including anti-submarine and electronic warfare. They trained in air and ground target practice, naval security operations, confronting remote-controlled vessels and the use of advanced defense systems.

Training also included simulations on coastal defense, surveillance operations, counter-terrorism, the freeing of hostages, and mine removal, as well as live fire exercises using medium and heavy weapons.

Director of the training Rear Admiral Abdullah al-Enzi said the drill achieved its goals through bolstering the capabilities of participating forces in deterring any regional threats and raising the level of their coordination in intelligence and security information exchange that will help in boosting regional maritime security.

The drill had kicked off on Sunday.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Importance of Launching ‘Comprehensive Political Process’ in Sudan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Importance of Launching ‘Comprehensive Political Process’ in Sudan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt reiterated on Friday the importance of reaching a ceasefire in Sudan and preparing the ground for launching a comprehensive political process that preserves the country’s unity, sovereignty and stability.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties as part of the constant coordination between their countries.

Abdelatty expressed Cairo’s condemnation of the “horrific violations in city of el-Fasher.”

The Sudanese government has accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against civilians during their capture of el-Fasher.

A quartet, comprised of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and United States, is working on reaching a ceasefire in Sudan. They met in Washington in September, stressing the need to exert “all possible efforts” to resolve the conflict.

They also called for pressure to be exerted on parties to protect civilians and infrastructure and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement said Prince Faisal and Abdelatty underscored the depth of the fraternal relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

They stressed their keenness on further coordination to bolster the partnership between them in service of joint interests and regional security and stability.

The FMs also tackled the developments in Gaza, underlining the need for continued coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in supporting efforts to consolidate the ceasefire so that it can be implemented in full.

Abdelatty briefed Prince Faisal on Cairo’s preparations to host an international conference on Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction.