Saudi Govt Reiterates Kingdom's Readiness to Mediate in Ukraine Crisishttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3520226/saudi-govt-reiterates-kingdoms-readiness-mediate-ukraine-crisis
Saudi Govt Reiterates Kingdom's Readiness to Mediate in Ukraine Crisis
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom's readiness to mediate between all parties in the Ukrainian crisis.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.
The ministers highlighted the telephone talks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During the telephone calls, Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the Kingdom's support for all efforts that would help de-escalate the tensions and all international efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the conflict.
The cabinet was briefed on the talks held between King Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Thani, who had paid a visit to the Kingdom last week.
They reviewed the visit paid by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, to the Kingdom and the talks he held with Crown Prince Mohammed.
They highlighted the interview Crown Prince Mohammed gave to The Atlantic last week, in which he underscored the major reforms and modernization underway in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030.
The cabinet tackled the meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers that was held in Tunisia and Saudi Arabia's stressing of the importance of cooperation and intensifying joint coordination to preserve the security and stability of the region.
It underlined the Strategy of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program that was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed on Monday.
The Strategy marks the beginning of a new era in the scholarship program that will contribute to improving the citizens’ competitiveness through upskilling the human capital in new and promising sectors to fulfill the needs of the future labor market. The Strategy is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to develop human capabilities and achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.
The government noted the Kingdom's lifting of all coronavirus-related restrictions on Saturday, saying it reflects the success of national efforts to combat the virus.
UAE Announces Travel Ban on Nationals to Iran, Lebanon and Iraqhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268420-uae-announces-travel-ban-nationals-iran-lebanon-and-iraq
UAE Announces Travel Ban on Nationals to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq
The flag of the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry on Thursday announced a travel ban on Emirati nationals going to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing regional developments including the Middle East war.
Iran has targeted the Gulf nation throughout the Middle East conflict sparked by a US-Israeli attack before a fragile ceasefire was announced, including missiles fired at civilian and energy infrastructure.
"In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announces a travel ban on UAE nationals travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq," state news agency WAM reported.
It said the ministry called on "all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return" to the UAE.
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadhhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268204-saudi-foreign-minister-meets-french-counterpart-riyadh
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh
Photo by SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Thursday in Riyadh French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.
During the meeting, they reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability.
How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268084-how-did-jeddah-summit-support-joint-gulf-action
How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
Gulf leaders meeting in Jeddah this week urged faster progress on joint projects and deeper military integration, seeking to reinforce collective security and economic coordination amid heightened regional tensions.
In a statement after the consultative summit on Tuesday, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said leaders called for accelerating completion of requirements to link all shared Gulf projects, including transport and logistics. They stressed speeding up implementation of the Gulf railway, advancing electricity interconnection, and taking prompt steps toward oil and gas pipeline and water-link projects.
The statement also pointed to studying strategic Gulf stockpiles, while emphasizing intensified military integration and faster completion of a joint early warning system against ballistic missiles.
The direct wording - repeating terms such as “accelerate” and “urgency” - reflected a push for concrete outcomes and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiative in convening the summit amid complex regional conditions.
28 April 2026, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Bahrain's King, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman, on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council Consultative Summit. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the meeting reflected Gulf unity. “Our consultative summit today in Jeddah embodies a unified Gulf position toward current developments and the need to intensify coordination and consultation,” he stated, adding that this would strengthen diplomatic efforts, safeguard regional security and stability, and support development and prosperity.
Extending Gulf leadership efforts
Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit was convened in response to conditions facing the Gulf region following the US-Israeli-Iranian war, aiming to coordinate GCC positions and contain its repercussions.
The goal is to enhance efforts to address this crisis and its consequences - security, economic and otherwise - to stabilize the region, safeguard GCC interests and strengthen collective security, he underlined.
Sager added that the summit builds on efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders, within the broader vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz to strengthen joint Gulf action, deepen economic unity, and develop defense and security systems toward more sustainable integration.
He revealed that these discussions also addressed reinforcing Gulf unity to better manage current challenges and anticipate future crises.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Toward independent Gulf decision-making
Sager said the summit is expected to build on the GCC success in confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks, using that experience to develop a comprehensive defense strategy, which would focus on modern armament suited to evolving warfare, training, and external defense partnerships, while reinforcing self-reliance.
Leaders reaffirmed the right of GCC states to self-defense, individually or collectively, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all measures to protect sovereignty, security and stability. They stressed full solidarity among member states and that their security is indivisible, with any attack on one considered an attack on all, in line with the joint defense agreement.
Albudaiwi said leaders praised the “courage and high readiness” of GCC armed forces in defending against Iranian attacks, noting their ability to intercept missiles and drones with professionalism and efficiency while safeguarding national assets.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Alternative routes on the agenda
Sager noted that developing alternative corridors to secure energy supply chains will likely be a key focus in the coming period, reflected in leaders’ directives to move ahead with pipeline projects and transport infrastructure.
Political analyst Ahmed Alibrahim agreed, saying the summit statement underscored Saudi Arabia’s role in securing supply chains during the crisis and working on alternative energy routes, including through the East-West pipeline, as part of addressing risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
He described the statement as unusually direct. “This is one of the rare times we see a clear and explicit communiqué with firm directives, especially regarding future requirements and open-ended scenarios,” he said, citing uncertainties including potential setbacks in US-Iran negotiations or other serious developments.
For his part, political analyst Mohammed Al-Dossary believes that the importance of the GCC lies in its ability to navigate many crises, including the Iraq-Iran War and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.
He stressed that the collective consciousness of Gulf citizens recognizes the importance of unifying the Gulf stance to overcome crises, including the current one and the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
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