Saudi Military Chief of Staff Discusses Joint Work with Greek Counterpart

Fighter jets partaking in the Falcon Eye 1 military drill, SPA
Fighter jets partaking in the Falcon Eye 1 military drill, SPA
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Saudi Military Chief of Staff Discusses Joint Work with Greek Counterpart

Fighter jets partaking in the Falcon Eye 1 military drill, SPA
Fighter jets partaking in the Falcon Eye 1 military drill, SPA

The military Chief of Staff of Saudi Arabia, Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, on Friday met with his Greek counterpart, Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Floros to discuss cooperation and joint work relations between the Kingdom and Greece.

Discussions during the meeting centered around defense, but also tackled issues of common interest.

Al-Ruwaili attended a flight demonstration by combat aircraft taking part in the “Falcon Eye 1” exercises at the Souda Air Force Base in Greece and met with the participants.

Saudi Royal Air Force (RSAF) F-15C aircraft and Hellenic Air Force F-16, Mirage 2000, and F-4 Phantom aircraft performed sorties and implemented training scenarios, including counter-insurgency and air support operations, and the destruction of ground targets.

Al-Ruwaili said that the RSAF’s involvement in the “Falcon Eye 1” exercise in Greece comes as part of King Salman’s eagerness to provide unlimited support for the development of the armed forces.

He said that the goal of the exercise is to exchange military expertise between Saudi Arabia and Greece to strengthen cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. This will help raise the level of combat readiness for both forces, he added.

The commander of the RSAF group participating in the drill, Col. Pilot Abdulrahman Bin Saeed Al-Shihri, said that the combat readiness and mastery have been shown by the participants of the RSAF, whether pilots or ground crews, is a matter of pride that deserves everyone's praise.

He stressed that this would not have been possible without the support from the wise leadership, whether at the level of training and qualification or at the level of equipping and arming.



Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Commitment to Peace in Ukraine

Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh on December 7, 2023 (SPA).
Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh on December 7, 2023 (SPA).
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Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Commitment to Peace in Ukraine

Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh on December 7, 2023 (SPA).
Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh on December 7, 2023 (SPA).

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to facilitating dialogue and pursuing a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

According to a Kremlin statement, Putin expressed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts, particularly its role in hosting Russian-American talks on February 18. The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and its impact on global oil market stability.

The call followed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Riyadh—the Ukrainian leader’s fourth visit to Saudi Arabia since the war began in February 2022. Zelensky acknowledged the Kingdom’s efforts and its influential role in both the Middle East and global affairs.

As part of its mediation efforts, Saudi Arabia recently hosted US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah under the Crown Prince’s direction. The discussions reflect Riyadh’s ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives, emphasizing dialogue as the only viable path to resolving the conflict.

In a significant development, Diriyah recently hosted the first high-level US-Russia negotiations since the war began. The talks resulted in agreements to establish senior negotiation teams to explore an end to the conflict and reopen diplomatic channels between Washington and Moscow.

Last month, US President Donald Trump and Putin, in their first known direct conversation since Putin’s call with Joe Biden before the war, agreed that Saudi Arabia would be the appropriate venue for their first meeting. Analysts say the move underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global peace broker and highlights the international recognition of its leadership.

Dr. Mutlaq Al-Mutairi, a professor of political media at King Saud University in Riyadh, described the Ukraine war as a global crisis that has drawn in world powers, particularly Western nations. “Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts have positioned Saudi diplomacy as a strong reference for peace,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Saudi Arabia’s approach is strategic rather than personal,” he added. “It focuses on political alliances and offers an objective analysis of the crisis, positioning the Kingdom as a mediator rather than a judge of individual leaders.”