Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council Holds First Meeting on Sunday

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
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Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council Holds First Meeting on Sunday

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad, in Riyadh last Tuesday (SPA)

The Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council will hold its first meeting on Sunday to reflect the strength of relations between the two states and bring them closer to improved integration that fulfills shared ambitions on security, prosperity, and happiness.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had jointly issued directives for launching the Council’s first session.

Established in July 2018, the Council aims to develop a joint vision that deepens and sustains relations between the two countries.

It operates in line with the objectives of the Gulf Cooperation Council and works to enhance inter-state economic integration, find innovative solutions for optimal utilization of existing resources, and build an effective educational system.

This relies on shared strengths, enhancing cooperation in political, security, and military fields, ensuring good collaboration and partnership, and highlighting the two countries’ economic standing, human development, political and security-military integration in various areas.

Each of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait aspires to boost trade exchange levels, especially as official statistics show that it amounted to about SAR 8.39 billion in 2019.

That year, Saudi exports to Kuwait amounted to about SAR 7.83 billion, while imports accounted for around SAR1. 56 billion.

As for cooperation during the coronavirus pandemic, there was consistent, direct, and continuous coordination among the two states’ health ministers.

The Kingdom showed keen interest in stabilizing Kuwaiti markets and supporting them through guaranteeing Saudi products reaching Kuwaiti markets by land, sea, and air. This was welcomed and appreciated by the Kuwaiti government.

It is worth noting that Kuwait is also actively working with Saudi Arabia to achieve goals set by the Saudi Crown Prince’s “Green Middle East” initiative.



Saudi, American Defense Ministers Discuss Regional Developments 

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Reuters)
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Saudi, American Defense Ministers Discuss Regional Developments 

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received on Monday a telephone call from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The officials reviewed Saudi-US relations and prospects for defense cooperation.

They also discussed regional developments and ongoing efforts to address them, as well as the shared vision of both countries in supporting regional and international security and stability. They also addressed issues of mutual interest.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said Prince Khalid and Hegseth exchanged views “on the regional security situation, including progress on US operations to degrade Houthi capabilities and uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”

“The leaders discussed opportunities for expanding US-Saudi partnership on defense matters and agreed to remain in close touch,” he added.