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King of Spain, Saudi FM Discuss Means to Bolster Bilateral Ties

King Felipe VI of Spain meets with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Madrid. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
King Felipe VI of Spain meets with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Madrid. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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King of Spain, Saudi FM Discuss Means to Bolster Bilateral Ties

King Felipe VI of Spain meets with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Madrid. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
King Felipe VI of Spain meets with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Madrid. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

King Felipe VI of Spain held talks in Madrid on Monday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Discussions focused on means to strengthen bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Spain.

They also covered opportunities for cooperation in various fields.

Prince Faisal earlier met his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares for talks on the bonds of friendship and cooperation between their countries.

They tackled efforts to deepen cooperation in various fields and means to strengthen joint coordination to achieve common interests. They also reviewed regional and international developments.

While in Madrid, Prince Faisal took part in a panel discussion under the title "Towards New Horizons for the Foreign Policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", organized by the Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies (El Cano), tweeted the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

Prince Faisal touched on Saudi-Spanish relations and their role in laying the foundations for global security and stability, many issues of common interest, and ways to boost bilateral relations that bring together their countries

He presented a number of Saudi issues and affairs, giving an explanation of Saudi Vision 2030 and the tremendous change that has taken place on all levels in recent years.

He cited the Kingdom's efforts to protect the planet, including the Saudi Green and Green Middle East initiatives, announced by Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman.

He discussed with the participants a number of issues around the world, foremost of which is the Saudi initiative to end the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political solution that includes a comprehensive ceasefire under the supervision of the United Nations.

He noted the positive impact of the formation of the Yemeni Presidential Command Council, highlighting the aspirations of the Kingdom and the rest of the countries in the region and the world for the Yemeni people to enjoy a prosperous and stable future.

Prince Faisal also underscored the importance of calling on the international community to confront the terrorist militias backed by Iran, which pose a real danger to the people of the region and the world.

On the Ukraine crisis, he stressed the Kingdom's support for everything that helps in easing the escalation, protecting civilians, and reaching negotiated political solutions between the warring parties, and all international efforts to resolve the crisis politically.

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Gulf

Khalid bin Salman Visits Saudi Interior Ministry Pavilion at World Defense Show

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
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Khalid bin Salman Visits Saudi Interior Ministry Pavilion at World Defense Show

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visited the Ministry of Interior's pavilion at the World Defense Show, held in Riyadh.

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making, command and control, and predictive intelligence, all aimed at protecting residents across the Kingdom.

During his tour, he explored how the ministry is advancing proactive security and efficient emergency management through innovative technical solutions.

The tour also underscored the role of the unified security operations centers (911) in the national response system and the ministry's commitment to international partnerships in security and smart systems.

Gulf

OIC Condemns Israeli Cabinet's Legalization of Settlements

Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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OIC Condemns Israeli Cabinet's Legalization of Settlements

Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned on Monday the Israeli cabinet’s approval of measures that aim to deepen Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and weaken the already limited powers of the Palestinian Authority.

The OIC said Israel’s “colonial settlement policy constitutes a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, foremost among which is Security Council Resolution 2334 and the legal opinion issued by the International Court of Justice.”

It renewed its call on the international community, particularly the Security Council, “to shoulder its responsibilities and take immediate action to put an end to all crimes and violations committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, their land, and their holy sites.”

The office of Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announced the decisions that would make it easier for Jewish settlers to force Palestinians to give up land, adding that “we will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a statement called the decision “dangerous” and an “open Israeli attempt to legalize settlement expansion” and land confiscation. He called for the United States and UN Security Council to intervene immediately.

The decision was announced a few days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington about Iran and other matters.

The measures announced Sunday include canceling a prohibition on sales of West Bank land to Israeli Jews, declassifying West Bank land registry records to ease land acquisition, transferring construction planning at religious and other sensitive sites in the volatile city of Hebron to Israeli authorities, and allowing Israeli enforcement of environmental and archaeological matters in Palestinian-administered areas.

The measures also would revive a committee that would allow the state of Israel to make “proactive” land purchases in the territory — “a step intended to guarantee land reserves for settlement for generations to come.”

Gulf

US Affirms Partnership with Riyadh is at its Strongest Level

Alison Dilworth, Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, shakes hands with a participant from the United States at the exhibition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alison Dilworth, Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, shakes hands with a participant from the United States at the exhibition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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US Affirms Partnership with Riyadh is at its Strongest Level

Alison Dilworth, Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, shakes hands with a participant from the United States at the exhibition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alison Dilworth, Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, shakes hands with a participant from the United States at the exhibition (Asharq Al-Awsat)

US Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, Alison Dilworth, said Sunday that the World Defense Show currently being held in Riyadh reflects the strongest manifestation of the bilateral partnership between the United States and the Kingdom, affirming that relations between the two countries “have never been stronger than they are today.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Show, Dilworth said the strong US participation in the exhibition clearly demonstrates the strength of cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. She pointed out that the partnership has witnessed sustained and strengthening growth in recent years.

Dilworth added that the Show brings together major global names in defense and aviation, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, alongside small and medium-sized US companies working in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced defense systems, reflecting the diversity of American participation and the broad scope of technical and industrial cooperation.

She highlighted that US companies aim to grow with Saudi partners, supporting the Kingdom’s security and prosperity in line with Vision 2030.

On the Saudi-US political momentum that has strengthened bilateral relations in recent years, Dilworth said that 2025 saw what she described as a “historic” visit by US President Donald Trump to the Kingdom, followed by a visit by the Saudi Crown Prince to Washington in November.

The two visits resulted in the signing of 23 agreements which she described as “pivotal achievements” in the trajectory of US-Saudi cooperation.

Regarding the military displays at the exhibition, the diplomat highlighted that the F-35 and the scheduled aerial demonstrations underscore the US commitment as a long-term partner to Saudi Arabia.