Saudi Defense Minister Visits BAE Systems in UK

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visits the headquarters of BAE Systems. SPA
Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visits the headquarters of BAE Systems. SPA
TT

Saudi Defense Minister Visits BAE Systems in UK

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visits the headquarters of BAE Systems. SPA
Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visits the headquarters of BAE Systems. SPA

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has visited the headquarters of BAE Systems in the British city of Wharton during his visit to the United Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Upon his arrival at the company's headquarters, he was received by the Chief of Air Staff of Britain's Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the British Military Attaché to Saudi Arabia, Brigadier Jimmy Piggott, and BAE Systems CEO Dr. Charles Woodburn, SPA said Tuesday.

The Saudi Defense Minister was briefed on the superior capabilities of the Typhoon aircraft and its combat systems, and on the company's future plans and strategies, including the program for future combat air capabilities, the development of air systems, and ways to strengthen the existing partnership between it and the Saudi Armed Forces.

During the partnership that spans more than 50 years, there has been successes in the fields of transferring technology and expertise to Saudi Arabia, and cooperation with the Saudi industrial sector, SPA said.

These efforts culminated in assembling the first jet training aircraft, in addition to manufacturing some of its parts in the Kingdom, which will contribute to achieving one of the most important goals of Vision 2030 on the localization of military industries.

The Minister of Defense also visited the company's aviation systems development and design site, and was briefed on a number of models of Typhoon aircraft and modern systems used in aviation.

Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, and a number of officials accompanied the Defense Minister on his visit.



Qatar to Reopen Its Embassy in Syria on Tuesday

 A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Qatar to Reopen Its Embassy in Syria on Tuesday

 A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)
A child holding the flag adopted by the new Syrian rulers is held up, as people celebrate after fighters of the ruling Syrian body ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Damascus old city, Syria, December 13, 2024. (Reuters)

Qatar will reopen its embassy in Syria on Tuesday after it was closed for more than 13 years, the Gulf country's foreign ministry said on Sunday, a week after Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.

Qatar's embassy in Damascus has been shut since July 2011 when it withdrew its ambassador from Damascus after a series of deadly crackdowns by Assad's regime on protesters - violence that led to the 13-year-long civil war.

Doha in recent years did not join efforts by several Arab countries to mend relations with Assad's government and re-establish diplomatic relations with Damascus.

A lightning advance by the opposition, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group led to the ouster of Assad on Dec. 8.

Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement its decision to reopen the embassy reflects its support for the Syrian people and their "struggle to attain their legitimate rights for a dignified life".