Saudi Arabia Reiterates Call for Restraint in Sudan

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting in Neom on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting in Neom on Tuesday. (SPA)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Reiterates Call for Restraint in Sudan

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting in Neom on Tuesday. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting in Neom on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s call on all parties in Sudan to exercise restraint and show calm in wake of the military in the country.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held virtually from Neom.

The cabinet urged Sudanese parties against escalation and to preserve the political and economic gains of their revolution.

Saudi Arabia will continue to stand by the brotherly Sudanese people and support everything that achieves security, stability and prosperity in their country.

The cabinet also hailed the United Nations Security Council for condemning the attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen against Saudi territories and civilian installations.

The council statement, it said, was an important message of support to efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Yemen and reaching a comprehensive political solution.

The ministers underscored the Kingdom’s firm and constant stance in supporting the Palestinian cause and reaching a fair solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that secures the Palestinian people’s rights. They reiterated Riyadh’s statements before the United Nations Economic and Financial Committee that called for forcing Israeli authorities to comply with international resolutions and laws and end their occupation of all occupied Arab territories.

King Salman briefed the ministers on the message he had received last week from King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the one he sent to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir. He also briefed them on the telephone talks he held with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The cabinet hailed the success of the Saudi Green Forum and Middle East Green Initiative Summit. They praised the events for presenting several initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and confronting and limiting the impact of climate change.



Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
TT
20

Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, arrived in Paris on Sunday for his first official visit to France since assuming office last December. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes senior Kuwaiti government officials.

The visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region, amid escalating tensions, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the fallout from military strikes between Iran and Israel.

In a statement issued by the Élysée Palace, the French presidency said the visit reflects a shared desire to deepen bilateral cooperation across diplomatic, defense, and economic spheres. The trip also coincides with Kuwait’s current presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to the statement, the Emir will meet President Emmanuel Macron for a working lunch on Monday. He will also attend France’s annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya described the visit as a “strategic milestone” to strengthen partnership in light of rapidly evolving regional and global dynamics. He confirmed that the Emir’s agenda includes signing agreements and memorandums of understanding covering infrastructure, education, defense, and culture.

Historical Relations

Diplomatic ties between Kuwait and France date back to 1961, when Paris formally recognized Kuwaiti independence. In 1967, the two countries exchanged ambassadors. Over the decades, the relationship has seen several high-profile visits, including Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah’s trip to Paris in 1989 and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah’s meeting with President Jacques Chirac in 2006.

Ministerial engagements have also continued, with former Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid attending the Middle East Peace Conference in 2017. More recently, French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Kuwait in April to sign new bilateral agreements.

Economic and Defense Partnership

France is one of Kuwait’s leading economic partners. French companies account for nearly 50% of European investments in the country and employ over 2,100 people in sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and consumer goods.

On defense, Kuwait and France maintain a military cooperation agreement first signed in August 1992 and renewed in 2009, which provides for mutual assistance if Kuwait faces external aggression. France’s participation in the 1991 coalition to liberate Kuwait cemented its standing as a key military ally.

Last month, Kuwait’s embassy in Paris took part in the “Gulf Vision 2025” conference hosted under Macron’s patronage to forge broader economic partnerships between France and the GCC states.