Arab, Islamic Officials Condemn Negative Campaign against Saudi Arabia

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Arab, Islamic Officials Condemn Negative Campaign against Saudi Arabia

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s rejection of the negative statements against it in wake of the OPEC+ decision was welcomed by Arab and Islamic leaders.

The officials expressed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia and strong condemnation of the statements and campaigns against Riyadh.

On Thursday, an official source at the Saudi Foreign Ministry underlined the Kingdom’s rejection of statements that were made against it over the OPEC+ decision.

The statements accused the Kingdom of taking sides in international conflicts and alleged that OPEC+’s move was politically motivated against the United States.

The source stressed Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of the baseless statements that are aimed at steering the decision away from its purely economic goals.

It added that the Saudi government values the importance of dialogue and the exchange of views with all partners and allies outside OPEC. It noted that recent consultations with the US stressed that all economic analyses explained that delaying the OPEC+ decision for months, at Washington’s request, would have negative repercussions.

“The Kingdom is seeking to preserve the strength of its relations with all friendly countries, but it also stresses its rejection of dictates and any actions or efforts that seek to tarnish the noble goals that it is pursuing in order to protect the global economy from oil market fluctuations,” it added.

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al Asoomi voiced his strong condemnation of the statements that have been made against Saudi Arabia. He said the Arab Parliament stands by the Kingdom and its clear position, which clarified that OPEC decisions are taken in consensus with other members in the group.

These decisions take into consideration the process of supply and demand in the global oil market, he added.

Moreover, he underlined the significant and pivotal role Saudi Arabia is playing, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on the all Arab, regional and international levels.

He praised the measures taken by Saudi Arabia in order to protect the global economy from market fluctuations and its balanced approach in achieving stability in the oil markets.

He hailed its wise and balanced policies that always prioritize the interests of all nations, consumers and producers alike.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed on Friday his rejection of the “negative media campaign against Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for Aboul Gheit said the “baseless” statements are “far removed from the truth.”

“Rather, they are aimed at politicizing purely economic decisions that everyone realizes are necessary for the stability of the global economy given the dangerous challenges it is facing,” he added.

He hailed “Saudi Arabia’s balanced approach in stabilizing the oil markets and its firm stances towards regional and international political affairs.”

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha welcomed on Thursday Riyadh’s complete rejection of the statements against it.

He praised the measures it has taken to protect the global economy from the fluctuations in energy prices and in securing supplies according to a balanced policy that takes into account the interests of consumer and producer countries.



Riyadh Reiterates Need for Immediate End to Threats to Bab al-Mandeb, Hormuz Straits

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Riyadh Reiterates Need for Immediate End to Threats to Bab al-Mandeb, Hormuz Straits

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s support for efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability and to combat terrorist and its criminal militias.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The government also underlined the need for an immediate end to all acts that threaten the security of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz Straits.

At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of his talks with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He also briefed it on the message he received from Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and on his phone calls with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The talks covered Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relations with their countries and ways to strengthen them, and underscored the importance of continued coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Cabinet welcomed the signing of the General Agreement on the GCC Railway Project to connect the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

It commended ongoing efforts to advance strategic cooperation and economic and development integration and to continue implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ vision for strengthening joint GCC action, achieving shared objectives, and meeting the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC countries.

It praised the address of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the opening of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition. The address highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims and its continued commitment to improving Hajj services by adopting the latest technologies and strengthening coordination among government agencies.

It also highlighted the expansion of the Direct Hajj Program to serve 133 countries and the announcement of new agreements and partnerships to make pilgrims’ journeys easier from their departure from their home countries until their return.

The Cabinet reviewed the overall performance of national sectors and systems in implementing strategies, programs, projects, and initiatives, and the progress achieved in development and prosperity indicators.

It hailed government agencies on winning dozens of international and regional awards across various fields, including health, infrastructure, digital government, and technological innovation, reflecting the state’s support and its commitment to providing these and other entities with every enabler to sustain leadership and excellence and achieve the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Discuss Efforts to Bolster Regional Security, Stability

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Discuss Efforts to Bolster Regional Security, Stability

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks in Riyadh on Tuesday with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

The talks focused on the latest regional developments and efforts exerted towards them to bolster stability and security. 

King Hamad had arrived in the Saudi capital earlier on Tuesday. He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by the Crown Prince. 

The talks between the two leaders also tackled the historic ties between their countries and aspects of cooperation and means to bolster and develop them. 

Crown Prince Mohammed underscored the Kingdom’s keenness on deepening the close fraternal relations with Bahrain in all fields. 

For his part, King Hamad hailed the efforts by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed to strengthen ties between their countries. 

He also praised the honorable historic Saudi stances taken towards Bahrain and its people on all occasions. 

He expressed his appreciation for the Saudi leadership’s efforts in developing collective Gulf work and its pioneering role in supporting the pillars of security, peace and stability in the region. 


What Does the Approval of an Advanced Command for the Unified Military Command in Kuwait Signify?

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman attends the 23rd meeting of the GCC's Joint Defense Council in Manama, Bahrain, November 10, 2026. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman attends the 23rd meeting of the GCC's Joint Defense Council in Manama, Bahrain, November 10, 2026. (SPA)
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What Does the Approval of an Advanced Command for the Unified Military Command in Kuwait Signify?

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman attends the 23rd meeting of the GCC's Joint Defense Council in Manama, Bahrain, November 10, 2026. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman attends the 23rd meeting of the GCC's Joint Defense Council in Manama, Bahrain, November 10, 2026. (SPA)

GCC defense ministers on Tuesday approved the launch of an advanced command for the Unified Military Command in Kuwait and allocated appropriate forces to it.

The ministers met at the 23rd session of the GCC Joint Defense Council in Manama, chaired by Bahrain's Minister of Defense Affairs and current session president, Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al-Nuaimi.

Analysts and observers speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat viewed the step as a significant move toward strengthening joint Gulf security.

Political researcher Dr. Ayed Al-Manna said the announcement was a step that is both necessary and urgent to guarantee collective Gulf security through the presence of forces tasked with protecting GCC states, independent of any internal disputes or differences.

Al-Manna told Asharq Al-Awsat that unprovoked Iranian attacks against GCC states underscored the critical need for constant, comprehensive readiness to deter external aggression.

The Gulf faces multiple threats, led primarily by the Iranian axis and its regional proxies, including militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

However, Al-Manna added that the security challenges extend beyond this, pointing to threats stemming from Israel and concerns surrounding the "Greater Israel" project.

He noted that the lack of stability in several regional countries and “ambitions” of targeting the Gulf, makes it imperative to boost military readiness and activate the unified Gulf force.

This step should have been taken a long time ago to bolster the security of all GCC states, he remarked.

He underscored the importance of equipping Gulf forces with the necessary military components and capabilities to enable them to deter and respond to any external aggression, meeting the collective security requirements of the council's member states.

Former Saudi officer Abdullatif Al Mulhem told Asharq Al-Awsat that establishing the Unified Military Command is a vital step in advancing joint Gulf military cooperation.

It is essential given the region's current security developments, which demand heightened coordination and readiness among the armed forces of the Gulf countries, he said.

Al Mulhem explained that the military significance of the decision lies in the GCC states strengthening the organizational structure of joint military action through an advanced command. This step is expected to boost coordination among Gulf forces and bolster their capacity to handle shared challenges and threats.

Saudi Arabia is expected to host the upcoming meeting of the Joint Defense Council as announced by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the Manama meeting.