Hajraf Reiterates Gulf Support to Legitimate Govt in Yemenhttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2752146/hajraf-reiterates-gulf-support-legitimate-govt-yemen
Hajraf Reiterates Gulf Support to Legitimate Govt in Yemen
The GCC chief recieves Yemen's President Hadi.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Dr. Nayef al-Hajraf reiterated on Tuesday the council’s support to the legitimate authorities in Yemen.
Hajraf received Yemen’s President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi for talks in the war-torn country.
Hadi praised the major efforts exerted by the GCC to ensure the safety, security, unity and stability of Yemen, underscoring its support for the political process and achieving peace through the three references: The Gulf initiative, national dialogue outcomes and United Nations Security Council resolution 2216.
He also hailed the Saudi-led Arab coalition and its political and military stances that “stem from the spirit of Arabism and shared destiny in confronting Iran’s expansion in the region.”
The two officials tackled the recent formation of a Yemeni power-sharing government and its return to Aden to assume its duties in line with the Riyadh Agreement.
For his part, Hajraf underlined the GCC’s firm stance in supporting the legitimate authorities in order to resolve the Yemeni crisis through achieving peace based on the three references.
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.
Coalition Destroys Houthi Missile Tunnels and Launch Platformshttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333664-coalition-destroys-houthi-missile-tunnels-and-launch-platforms
Yemeni government fighters drive during battles against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis at the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP) /
Coalition Destroys Houthi Missile Tunnels and Launch Platforms
Yemeni government fighters drive during battles against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis at the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP) /
The spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said the coalition’s joint forces had carried out a targeted military operation against the Houthis to neutralize threats, adding that the operation complied with international humanitarian law and customary rules.
In a statement, al-Malki said the operation had destroyed and neutralized legitimate military targets in areas under Houthi control. The targets included five tunnels used to store ballistic missiles; four ballistic missile launch platforms and a missile depot.
The operation also focused on disrupting supply lines between areas controlled by the Houthis, as well as targeting their fortifications, personnel concentrations and military equipment along front lines inside Yemen, he said.
Earlier on Monday, al-Malki said air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh in the early hours of the morning.
In a series of subsequent posts on X, al-Malki said the coalition had destroyed two missile launch platforms in Sanaa, one of which had been used to launch a missile towards Riyadh.
“We will continue the operation to dismantle the Houthi militia’s ballistic missile network,” he said.
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