Saudi Arabia Pledges $150 Million at Global Vaccine Summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
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Saudi Arabia Pledges $150 Million at Global Vaccine Summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account

Saudi Arabia pledged on Thursday $150 million to the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private global health partnership.

During an extraordinary virtual G20 summit on coronavirus that it chaired in March, Saudi Arabia announced that it would contribute $500 million to international efforts to fight the pandemic.

Of that amount, $150 million would be allocated to GAVI, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a vaccine summit hosted by the British government.

The summit, held virtually in London, aims to raise at least $7.4 billion for GAVI to immunize a further 300 million children in the world's poorest countries by 2025 against diseases such as malaria, polio, diphtheria and measles.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for the noble work GAVI carries out in protecting human lives,” Prince Faisal said on his Twitter account.

“I was honored to represent the Kingdom at today’s vaccine summit and to announce the allocation of US$150 million to support the great efforts of the alliance,” he added.



Saudi Arabia, US Ink Largest Defense Sales Agreement in History as Trump Visits Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomes US President Donald Trump at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomes US President Donald Trump at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, US Ink Largest Defense Sales Agreement in History as Trump Visits Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomes US President Donald Trump at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomes US President Donald Trump at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and the United States signed on Tuesday the largest defense sales agreement in history, worth nearly early $142 billion, as President Donald Trump visited Riyadh.

The agreement will provide Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defense firms, said a White House statement.

The sales that the US intends to complete fall into five broad categories: air force advancement and space capabilities; air and missile defense; maritime and coastal security; border security and land forces modernization; and information and communication systems upgrades.

The package also includes extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services, added the statement.

“This deal represents a significant investment in Saudi Arabia’s defense and regional security, built on American systems and training,” it stressed.

“Our defense relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is stronger than ever under President Trump’s leadership, and the package signed today, the largest defense cooperation deal in US history, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening our partnership,” it said.

“The agreement opens the door for expanded US defense industry participation and long-term sustainment partnerships with Saudi entities.”

“The deepening United States-Saudi Arabia partnership reflects a joint vision for long-term prosperity and employment opportunities in both nations,” said the statement.

Trump had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Tuesday on his first overseas trip since his reelection. He was received by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The leaders later chaired the Saudi-American summit that reviewed several joint files.

They then signed an economic strategic partnership agreement and oversaw the signing of several agreements between their countries in various fields.