Bahrain, Qatar to Restore Diplomatic Ties

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. (QNA)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. (QNA)
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Bahrain, Qatar to Restore Diplomatic Ties

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. (QNA)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. (QNA)

Qatar and Bahrain agreed to restore diplomatic ties on Wednesday during the Bahraini-Qatari Follow-up Committee’s second meeting at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh.

The Bahraini delegation was headed by the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Qatari delegation was headed by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi.

The two sides affirmed that restoring ties stems from the mutual will to develop bilateral relations and enhance the Gulf unity and integration according to the GCC Charter and in respect of the principles of equality, national sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, and good neighborliness between states.

Restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries came in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the topics on the agenda and reviewed the outcomes of the first meeting of the joint legal committee and the joint security committee.



Australian Deputy PM Stresses Importance of Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
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Australian Deputy PM Stresses Importance of Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles stressed the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Australia, noting that the Kingdom stands as Australia's second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.

In a statement issued by his office, Marles indicated that his visit to the Kingdom and the UAE seeks to enhance collaborative efforts within the G20 and other multilateral institutions and aims to emphasize the unwavering commitment to a rules-based international order.

The statement further emphasized that the Kingdom is a crucial partner for Australia and that the visit presents an opportunity to broaden economic ties and explore avenues for deeper cooperation with regional leaders.

Marles said that this visit underscores Australia's commitment to fortifying economic and diplomatic ties with the Kingdom, recognizing its crucial role as a partner in addressing shared global challenges.

Marles met with Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Wednesday.