Russia: AlUla Summit Will Lead to Positive Regional Developments

Gulf leaders pose for a family photo ahead of the AlUla summit. (SPA)
Gulf leaders pose for a family photo ahead of the AlUla summit. (SPA)
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Russia: AlUla Summit Will Lead to Positive Regional Developments

Gulf leaders pose for a family photo ahead of the AlUla summit. (SPA)
Gulf leaders pose for a family photo ahead of the AlUla summit. (SPA)

Chairman of the Russian State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky said Tuesday that the annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in AlUla last week would positively reflect on the process of complex files in the region, particularly in Syria.

Slutsky said Russia is interested to enhance settlement processes in the region and recovery of Arab unity.

The summit “will directly reflect on the joint interests of regional states, and Russia itself,” he stressed.

Gulf Arab leaders signed a declaration last week in Saudi Arabia to mark a new page in relations after ending a diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar that lasted over 40 months.

“AlUla summit brought an end to the unhealthy situation that we witnessed in the past few years. I am sure that the results of this summit would reflect in upcoming steps to renew full cooperation among regional states,” Slutsky said.

He confirmed that any positive development in the region would affect the security of the Eurasian region.

“First of all, there are talks about unity among Gulf states to combat the multiple common threats, including terrorism, extremist ideologies and the spread of mass destruction weapons, in addition to the number of crises, mainly in Syria, Yemen and Libya and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,” he said.

Slutsky added: “AlUla summit removed the principle obstacle hindering the implementation of the Russian initiative, which aims to enhance security in this strategic region, and to find solutions to other crises, particularly the Syrian crisis.”

He hoped that the Arab unity would also pave the way for the Arab League to reinstate Syria’s membership.



Trump Visits Al Udeid, Says Qatar Will Invest $10 Billion in Air Base

President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
TT

Trump Visits Al Udeid, Says Qatar Will Invest $10 Billion in Air Base

President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in the coming years in the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

Speaking at a meeting with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said his trip through the Gulf region could generate $4 trillion.

“This is a record tour. There’s never been a tour that will raise—it could be a total of $3.5, $4 trillion. Just in this four or five days,” he said.

He described his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Emirates as a historic trip.

Later during a visit to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday, where he spoke to American troops, Trump said, “We almost lost the Middle East because of the policies of the Joe Biden administration. But we’re going to protect the Middle East.”

On the nuclear file, Trump revealed that the United States is “very close to making a deal with Iran,” stating that Tehran has “somewhat agreed to the terms” of a long-term agreement. He added, “We want to deal with the Iran problem in a smart way — but not violently.”

On the situation in Yemen, Trump said the US is prepared to return to military operations against the Houthis if provoked.

“We’re dealing with the Houthis, and I think that’s been very successful. But maybe an attack will be launched tomorrow — in which case, we’ll go back to the offensive,” he said.

Trump then praised US troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha.
“You are the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. We have the strongest military in the world,” he said.

Trump also touted plans for advanced US warplanes — including the Boeing F-47 announced in March as an update on the F-22 and named in honor of both the incumbent 47th president and the founding year of the Air Force.

“We’re going to do an F-55 and I think if we get the right price, we have to get the right price, and that’ll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35,” Trump said.

The US President also commented on his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.

“I didn’t know Syria had been under sanctions for this long,” Trump said.