Saudi-Bahraini Cooperation Council Raises Representation Level

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, will chair the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, will chair the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi-Bahraini Cooperation Council Raises Representation Level

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, will chair the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, will chair the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Council of Ministers, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, decided on Wednesday to negotiate with Bahrain to raise the level of representation for the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, to be headed by the crown princes of the two countries.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa welcomed the Saudi decision and emphasized “the solid historical ties that unite the two countries, based on strong foundations of brotherhood, common visions and mutual understanding and coordination.”

Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince, renewed his keenness to achieve the vision of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, by strengthening relations between the two countries through the Bahraini-Saudi Coordination Council, in order to “further consolidate the distinguished relations between the two leaderships and brotherly peoples at all levels and achieve a more prosperous future that meets ambitions and aspirations.”

He also praised the efforts deployed by Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, to strengthen joint relations and push them towards a broader horizon of bilateral cooperation and coordination.

For his part, Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, highly valued the step to rise the representation level of Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, stressing that the close ties between the two kingdoms were based on appreciation and mutual respect between the two leaderships and peoples.

In July 2019, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced the establishment of their Coordination Council that would be tasked with coordinating various political, military, economic, investment, media and social stances.

“The Council is important for enhancing coordination, cooperation and complementary between the two countries in various political, economic, investment, development, military and security fields, as well as in following up on the progress of work in all joint projects and initiatives, within the two kingdoms’ deep-rooted relations,” the Bahraini King said.



Saudi Arabia Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement in Yemen

 The damaged Sanaa airport a day after Israeli airstrikes hit the premises, in Sanaa, Yemen, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
The damaged Sanaa airport a day after Israeli airstrikes hit the premises, in Sanaa, Yemen, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement in Yemen

 The damaged Sanaa airport a day after Israeli airstrikes hit the premises, in Sanaa, Yemen, 07 May 2025. (EPA)
The damaged Sanaa airport a day after Israeli airstrikes hit the premises, in Sanaa, Yemen, 07 May 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia welcomed the ceasefire in Yemen, announced by Oman, aiming to protect international navigation and trade, the Kingdom's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

It reiterated its support for all effort aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Yemen that would achieve security and stability in the country and region.

Oman said a day earlier that it mediated a ceasefire deal between Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis and the US.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, saying that the militants had agreed to stop attacking US ships.

The ceasefire deal does not include sparing Israel, the Houthis said on Wednesday, suggesting their shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade will not come to a complete halt.

There have been no reports of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea area since January.

The Houthis have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea since Israel began its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza after the Palestinian group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The US military has said it has struck more than 1,000 targets since its current operation in Yemen, known as Operation Rough Rider, started on March 15. The strikes, the US military said, have killed "hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders".