The Saudi government highlighted on Tuesday the outcomes of the meetings of the working groups between the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and United States.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.
The United States and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defense and Maritime Security at the GCC’s headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 9.
The Working Groups stressed the longstanding defense partnership between the United States and the members of the GCC and reaffirmed a shared commitment to regional security, under the framework of the GCC-US Strategic Partnership.
The United States and GCC member states discussed the range of threats to the region with a focus on the air and sea domains. The participants underscored the November 2021 statement of the US-GCC Iran Working Group, again condemning Iran’s malign behavior through proxies and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Iran has used these weapons and supported terrorist and other armed groups to conduct hundreds of attacks in the region.
The Saudi cabinet reviewed various developments that had taken place in the past week.
The ministers condemned the cowardly attack against an oil refinery in Riyadh, saying they support the measures taken by the Kingdom to protect itself and global energy supplies.
They stressed that such terrorist attacks not only target the Kingdom, but broader energy supplies, which will negatively impact the global economy. They urged the world to stand against such acts, their perpetrators and backers.
The cabinet also condemned the missile attack carried out by Iran against Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region. It said it stands by Iraq and all the measures it takes to protect its security and stability, adding that Saudi Arabia rejects all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism.
King Salman briefed the ministers on the talks he held last week with visiting Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The cabinet also reviewed the talks held between Saudi and Greek officials at the Saudi-Greek investment forum.
The ministers hailed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, for his launch on Monday of the new strategy of the National Development Fund.
They highlighted the World Defense Show that was hosted by Riyadh earlier this month, saying it garnered local and international support for cooperation and innovation and building significant partnerships in defense and security industries.
