Implementation of Riyadh Agreement in Yemen, Saudi Diplomacy Receive Wide Praisehttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2693416/implementation-riyadh-agreement-yemen-saudi-diplomacy-receive-wide-praise
Implementation of Riyadh Agreement in Yemen, Saudi Diplomacy Receive Wide Praise
Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman during a meeting last November (Saba News Agency)
Yemen’s formation of a power-sharing government, in accordance with the terms of the Riyadh Agreement jointly signed with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in November last year, has received international and Arab and Gulf welcome.
Each of the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait have welcomed the implementation of the deal on Saturday and praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts.
Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber confirmed that the new cabinet will arrive in the interim Yemeni capital, Aden, within 10 days.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, the diplomat said that the government will be transferred after logistic arrangements are completed.
Jaber accredited the formation of a new Yemeni governments to parties coming together and fulfilling their share of obligations laid out by the Riyadh Agreement.
The coming phase for Yemenis is both fresh and promising, he added.
Jaber also reiterated his country’s commitment to achieving stability in Yemen, asserting that the Kingdom will continue to back peacemaking efforts there.
Noting that formation talks had spanned for 50 days, Jaber said that Saudi sponsorship and the Riyadh Agreement will guarantee the return of government to Aden.
The new cabinet was “an important step for enhanced stability, improvement of state institutions and increased political partnership. It is also a pivotal step toward a lasting political resolution to the conflict,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to Yemen.
Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Assoumi, chairman of the Arab Parliament, said the formation of the new government would help restore security, stability and unity, activate state institutions, enable the implementation of development projects in liberated areas, and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Mubarak Al-Hajraf praised Yemeni parties for prioritizing the interests of the people, supporting the new government and playing a role in ending the Yemeni crisis. He also thanked the Arab Coalition for supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The UAE said it hoped this development would lead to a political solution to the crisis. Bahrain called it an important step in strengthening and unifying Yemeni efforts to confront the Iran-backed Houthi militias and achieve security, peace and stability for the Yemeni people.
The new government, announced by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on Yemeni state TV late on Friday, consists of 24 portfolios divided equally between the north and south.
The United Kingdom, which has been heavily involved in the political process in Yemen, also welcomed the formation of the new government and thanked Saudi Arabia’s efforts.
“This is an important step towards the implementation of the Riyadh agreement between the government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council, and another step towards peace that the Yemenis desperately need,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
Khalid bin Salman Leads Saudi Delegation at Meeting of Makkah Defense Pact Countries in Tehranhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333699-khalid-bin-salman-leads-saudi-delegation-meeting-makkah-defense-pact-countries-tehran
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Khalid bin Salman Leads Saudi Delegation at Meeting of Makkah Defense Pact Countries in Tehran
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is leading a Saudi delegation taking part in meetings hosted by Tehran on Monday for the countries of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.
The meetings are part of de-escalation efforts in the region and aim to encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions.
The agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan met in Istanbul on August 31.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir and Türkiye’s chief of intelligence Ibrahim Kalin will take part in the meetings, said Ambassador Rayed Krimly, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Public Diplomacy.
In a post on the X platform, he added that the representatives of the Makkah agreement will meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Mohsen Rezaei.
He said that the visit is taking place within the framework of ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the parties to the current crisis and to support mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar and Pakistan, underscoring the importance of bolstering dialogue and diplomatic solutions to defuse existing tensions.
Krimly pointed to the role played by the member states of the Makkah pact in supporting regional security and stability, as well as working with regional countries to achieve this goal.
Riyadh and Athens Seek to Deepen Defense, Security Cooperation and Coordinationhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333670-riyadh-and-athens-seek-deepen-defense-security-cooperation-and-coordination
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meet at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
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Riyadh and Athens Seek to Deepen Defense, Security Cooperation and Coordination
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meet at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia and Greece stressed on Sunday their determination to strengthen defense cooperation and coordination to serve mutual interests and contribute to regional and global security and peace.
They underlined their commitment to bolstering security cooperation and coordination on issues of common concern, including combating all forms of crime, extremism, terrorism, and terrorism financing, alongside exchanging expertise and training in these fields.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday.
A joint statement after their talks said both sides further agreed on the importance of enhancing cyber security cooperation and information sharing to protect the vital interests and national security of both countries.
The visit stems from the distinguished relations uniting the two countries and their peoples, coinciding with the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Athens, it noted.
“Both sides commended the outcomes of the Crown Prince's visit to Greece in July 2022, during which the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council was announced, and of the prime minister's visit to the Kingdom in January 2025, which included the council's first meeting,” it said
“These visits have broadened cooperation between the two countries. Both sides stressed the council's importance as an effective institutional framework for the strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to continuing work within it and implementing priority joint initiatives,” it added.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomes Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)
Economy and investment
On the economy, trade, and investment, both sides “commended the strength of economic ties and agreed on the importance of strengthening them further, particularly in priority sectors, and of seizing the investment opportunities created by both countries' strategic visions.”
“They noted with appreciation the growth in bilateral trade since 2021, which reached about $1.7 billion in 2025. They welcomed the progress made by the investment and trade committee under the council and stressed the need to implement agreed initiatives to deliver tangible results,” continued the statement.
“They also welcomed the recent meeting of the Saudi-Greek Business Council in Athens and agreed on the importance of strengthening investment in key sectors, including infrastructure, construction, energy, digital connectivity, logistics, and technology,” it said.
Both sides acknowledged the progress made on the East to Med Data Corridor (EMC) subsea cable project, which aims to boost digital connectivity between East and West, and reaffirmed their commitment to completing it on schedule.
The Saudi side welcomed Greek investors and companies, expressing interest in attracting high-quality investment and advanced expertise in promising sectors. It encouraged Greek firms to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom and to explore opportunities in major projects, including those linked to the Kingdom’s hosting of Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The Greek side encouraged Saudi companies to explore investment opportunities in Greece, highlighting its strategic location as a gateway to the European market and Southeast Europe, and opportunities in energy, transport, logistics, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Riyadh. (SPA)
Energy
In the energy sector, “the Greek side commended the Kingdom’s leading role in enhancing the reliability and stability of global oil markets and its positive contribution to balancing energy markets in the interests of both producers and consumers, supporting sustainable economic growth.”
Both sides “stressed the critical importance of safeguarding the security of international maritime corridors to ensure the safe, uninterrupted flow of energy supplies to global markets, and expressed concern over attacks on energy infrastructure, which affect supply availability and market stability.”
The Greek side praised the Kingdom’s efforts “to ensure continuity of supplies and strengthen supply chain resilience, notably through alternative export routes such as the East-West Pipeline, which have helped mitigate market volatility and strengthen global energy security.”
Both sides stressed the importance of the 2022 memorandum of cooperation in the energy sector, which includes the Saudi-Greek electrical interconnection project, and committed to accelerating cooperation in this strategic field.
The Saudi side noted that the project is one of several interconnection initiatives the Kingdom is implementing as part of its ambition to become a global hub for electrical interconnection and energy exports. It will enable the exchange and export of electricity, enhance the security and reliability of interconnected grids, and link the Kingdom’s grid to Europe through Greece.
The Greek side highlighted Greece’s strategic location and existing infrastructure as pillars of its development into a regional hub for energy and digital connectivity, a vision that complements the interconnection project.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during an official reception in Riyadh. (SPA)
Both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation on clean hydrogen, including exploring exports from the Kingdom to Greece and on to demand centers in other European Union member states.
They also stressed the importance of expanding bilateral investment in conventional energy, renewable energy, and petrochemicals to diversify global supply chains, develop the necessary technologies, and encourage partnerships between companies to make the most of local resources in both countries.
They agreed to boost cooperation on energy efficiency and conservation in the building, industrial, and transport sectors, including raising awareness, and to collaborate on energy services and related capacity building.
Climate
On climate change, both sides stressed the importance of adhering to the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.
They highlighted the value of cooperation on circular carbon economy applications as a tool for managing emissions and achieving climate mitigation and adaptation goals.
Both sides also underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and space; transport, logistics, and civil aviation; the judiciary and justice; culture; tourism; sports and youth; science and education; media; advanced industries and supply chain integration; environment, water, and agriculture; and public health, health security, the pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology.
Defense cooperation
They stressed “their determination to strengthen defense cooperation and coordination in a way that serves their mutual interests and contributes to regional and global peace and security.”
They also underscored their commitment “to enhancing security cooperation on issues of common concern, including combating crime in all its forms, countering extremism, terrorism, and terrorist financing, and exchanging expertise and training.”
“They agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation in cybersecurity and information sharing to protect both countries’ core interests and national security,” said the joint statement.
Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Jordanian Counterparthttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333667-saudi-foreign-minister-holds-phone-call-jordanian-counterpart
Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Jordanian Counterpart
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman Safadi, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
During the call, Prince Faisal expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strongest condemnation of the terrorist attack on a church in Jordan’s Karak Governorate, which left several people dead and injured. He also extended the Kingdom’s sincere condolences to the victims’ families and to the government and people of Jordan.
The two ministers discussed regional developments and efforts to enhance security and stability.
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