CENTCOM Commander: We Are Committed to Our Military Cooperation with Riyadh 

US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
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CENTCOM Commander: We Are Committed to Our Military Cooperation with Riyadh 

US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

US Central Command Commander General Erik Kurilla stressed his country’s commitment to consolidating cooperation and coordination between the US Central Command and all its partners in the region, to combat the joint Iranian-Houthi threats.  

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Kurilla said the US will continue anti-smuggling operations with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces to stop shipping advanced conventional munitions by sea in support of Houthi operations.  

It has finally succeeded in preventing the entry of explosive materials into the region from Iran, he added, stressing the inevitability of military cooperation between Riyadh and Washington, to enhance the security and stability of the region.  

He noted that the US forces intercepted on Nov. 8 a stateless dhow in the Gulf of Oman coming from Iran, which was smuggling a huge amount of explosive materials to Yemen, including 360,000 pounds of urea fertilizer, which is used in explosives, and ammonium chlorate, used as fuel for ballistic missiles.  

On the Saudi-American military cooperation strategy, Kurilla said that the Saudi armed forces are among the most reliable and capable partners of the Central Command. The military cooperation between them is critical to enhancing security and stability in the region. This is a strategic cooperation that serves all nations and the entire Middle East. 

In response to comments that US military cooperation was not sufficient to deter the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, Kurilla stressed that integrated air and missile defense and the disruption of advanced conventional weapons produced in Iran, including those supplied to the Houthis, were among the functional priorities for the US and its military partners.  

This is why events are so important, such as the meeting of the Joint Military Planning Committee on Nov. 16 hosted by the Chief of the Royal Saudi Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili… These opportunities enhance bilateral military cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, as well as security and stability in the region, he emphasized.  

On the US-Saudi plan to deal with drones targeted against Saudi Arabia from Yemen, Kurilla underlined that CENTCOM supports the Kingdom in defending its lands and people from cross-border Houthi attacks.  

It remains committed to deepening cooperation and coordination between US Central Command and all partners in the region to combat this common drone threat, he stated.  

He acknowledged that Iran posed a threat to international peace and security in general, and the region in particular, noting that Tehran was the main destabilizing player throughout the Arab world.  

“We continue to see Iran as the biggest threat to regional security and stability. The regime provides weapons, money, support, and direction to proxies across the region who engage in terrorist acts, and undermine local governments, in order to advance Iranian interests, all of which come against the stability and security of the region,” Kurilla noted.  

He added: “We are currently working to continuously enhance monitoring of threat flows in the region, and remain in constant contact with our partners. When needed, we will not hesitate to take action to defend our forces or our partners... The commitment of the Central Command to the region is firm.” 



Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
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Saudi Industry, Mineral Resources Minister Begins Official Visit to France

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. (SPA file photo)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, leading a high-level delegation from the industry and mining sector, began an official three-day visit to France on Monday, with scheduled stops in Paris, Marseille, and Toulouse.

The visit aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties and foster cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France in the industrial and mining sectors, as well as explore joint investment opportunities in key strategic areas that the Kingdom is prioritizing for localization, particularly the aviation and food industries.

Alkhorayef will hold a series of bilateral meetings with French government officials and leaders of prominent global French companies in the mining, aircraft manufacturing, and food sectors. The meetings will include discussions with Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard, as well as the CEOs of Airbus, Safran, Orano, Sidel, Lesaffre, and the Bel Group.

The agenda includes expanding joint cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors, attracting high-quality investments to the Kingdom, and building effective partnerships to leverage the promising opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia’s specialized industrial clusters. The Kingdom's incentives and capabilities available to investors will also be highlighted.

Alkhorayef's visit will feature tours of Airbus's aircraft manufacturing plants in Marseille and Toulouse, providing insights into their industrial facilities and production lines.

The visit is also expected to include the signing of memoranda of understanding with French companies to encourage joint investments, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and promote knowledge transfer in promising industrial sectors.

Saudi Arabia and France maintain strong economic relations, with Saudi non-oil exports to France exceeding SAR1.91 billion in 2024, primarily consisting of machinery and electrical appliances, organic chemical products, and aluminum and its derivatives. French non-oil imports reached SAR18.2 billion in the same year, with essential oils, electrical appliances, and pharmaceutical products among the most significant import sectors.

Alkhorayef's visit to France aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which emphasizes developing international partnerships to boost the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector and transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power. This includes localizing advanced strategic industries such as aviation and food, attracting high-quality investments, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation in these areas.