Saudi Arabia, Britain Sign Defense Cooperation Plan

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is accorded an official reception in London. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is accorded an official reception in London. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Britain Sign Defense Cooperation Plan

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is accorded an official reception in London. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is accorded an official reception in London. (SPA)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in London on Tuesday with his British counterpart Ben Wallace.

The officials signed a defense cooperation plan between their countries that is aimed at developing the capabilities of the Saudi Defense Ministry, nationalizing the military industries and bolstering the partnership between Riyadh and Lonon in the military and defense fields.

The ministers held talks on the strategic and historic relations between their countries and aspects of bilateral cooperation in the military and defense fields.

They also reviewed issues of common interest and regional and international developments.

Prince Khalid was accorded an official reception at the Royal Cavalry Guard Square where the Saudi royal anthem was played, and the guard of honor was reviewed.

He had arrived in London on Monday on an official visit where he is set to meet with several officials to discuss bilateral ties and bolster cooperation in the military and defense fields.

The signing of the agreement was attended by Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, and a number of senior military and civilian officials.

It was also attended by Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston, the Chief of Air Staff of the British Air Force; the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Neil Crompton; the British Military Attaché to the Kingdom, Brigadier F.A.J. Piggott, and a number of officials.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
TT

Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”