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Saudi-Indonesian Talks Review Opportunities to Enhance Cooperation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi-Indonesian Talks Review Opportunities to Enhance Cooperation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet in Riyadh. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received Indonesian President Joko Widodo at al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss bilateral ties and ways to develop and enhance the partnership between Riyadh and Jakarta.

The meeting addressed recent regional and international developments and the ongoing efforts made towards them.

The two leaders also touched upon various issues of mutual interest.

The Crown Prince and the Indonesian President attended the signing of several bilateral agreements.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi signed the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council Agreement.

Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal and Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Ario Bimo Nandito signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in youth and sports.

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi and Indonesian Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, signed a technical cooperation program in various fields of standardization.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed another MoU to cooperate to ensure halal product quality.

The agreement was signed by CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority Hisham al-Jadhey and CEO of the Indonesian Halal Products Guarantee Agency Muhammad Aqil Irham.

The Indonesian President and his delegation arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday to participate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the ASEAN summit in Riyadh.

He was received at King Khalid International Airport by Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar and a delegation of several officials.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia enjoy close and distinguished relations at the official and popular levels.

In 2017, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz visited Indonesia as part of an Asian tour, which paved the way for opening new horizons and boosting cooperation in all fields.

Both nations formed their first joint committee in 1982 and later formed the Supreme Coordination Council, representing a qualitative step in ties to the level of strategic partnership.

Furthermore, the two sides are seeking to strengthen their strategic relations in energy and technology.

Aramco is Indonesia’s largest supplier of oil and gasoline, amounting to 11 million barrels annually. Its gasoline share in the Indonesian market reached 30 percent during the past four years.

Military and defense cooperation witnessed a tangible development, which was evident in the visit by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to Indonesia in August, during which he discussed ways to bolster ties and partnership opportunities.

Riyadh and Jakarta look forward to benefiting from the opportunities provided by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s significant projects in strengthening cooperation in various fields in light of their global economic standing and active membership in the G20.

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Gulf

World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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World Defense Show Opens in Riyadh with Expanded Int’l Participation

The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The exhibition includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and extensive display areas (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The World Defense Show opened in Riyadh on Sunday, bringing together defense and military companies from around the globe to showcase advanced technologies, as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to localize its military industries and strengthen domestic supply chains.

The third edition of the exhibition is being held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and organized by the General Authority for Military Industries from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12.

It features official delegations, government entities, and international firms operating in the defense and security sectors.

The event comes as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a comprehensive national defense industry and localize more than 50 percent of military spending, while boosting operational readiness and strategic autonomy.

Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries and chairman of the exhibition’s supervisory committee, said the show reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to innovation, localization, and the development of an integrated defense ecosystem.

He said the exhibition includes live air and ground demonstrations, static displays, and newly introduced zones designed to enhance cooperation between government bodies and major national and international defense companies.

Andrew Pearcey, chief executive of the World Defense Show, said the event would feature a comprehensive program starting with an official delegations initiative linking senior officials with investors and industry leaders to support international industrial and technological cooperation.

Pearcey said the “Defense Industry Lab” would highlight emerging technologies and applied research, while dedicated zones would focus on naval systems and Saudi supply chains, connecting local manufacturers and small and medium-sized enterprises with global firms.

The program also includes meetings between Saudi government entities and industry representatives to discuss operational requirements and investment opportunities.

He added that the venue includes a fully integrated airport with a 2,700-meter runway, four aircraft taxiways, and large display areas, allowing the exhibition to host integrated air, land, and maritime demonstrations.

Participation in the 2026 edition is expected to exceed previous shows, reflecting growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s defense market.

South Korea’s air force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, will take part in the exhibition for the first time in the Middle East. The South Korean Air Force said it would deploy 9 T-50 fighter jets, including 1 reserve aircraft, 4 C-130 transport planes, and about 120 personnel.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns RSF Attacks on Civilians and Aid Convoys in Sudan

An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)
An elderly man picks up his food aid ration at the Umdulu Camp, in Engpung County, Sudan, January 30, 2026. (Karl Schembri/Norweigan Refugee Council/Handout via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Saturday the Rapid Support Forces’ attack against a humanitarian aid convoy in Sudan’s Kordofan.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom expressed its strong condemnation of the attack against Al-Kuweik Military Hospital, a humanitarian aid convoy affiliated with the World Food Program, and a vehicle transporting displaced civilians.

“These acts are unjustifiable under any circumstances and are flagrant violations of all humanitarian norms and relevant international agreements,” it stressed.

“The Kingdom called on the RSF to immediately cease these violations and to fulfill their moral and humanitarian obligations by ensuring the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023,” it added.

The Kingdom reiterated its firm position in support of Sudan’s unity, security, and stability, the need to preserve its legitimate institutions.

It voiced its rejection of “foreign interference and the continued actions of certain parties in supplying illicit weapons, mercenaries, and foreign fighters, despite their stated support for a political solution,” saying such “conduct is a primary factor in prolonging the conflict and exacerbating the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

A drone attack by the RSF hit a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, a doctors’ group said, a day after a World Food Program aid convoy was targeted.

The attack occurred close to the city of Rahad in North Kordofan province, said the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the country’s ongoing war. The vehicle was transporting displaced people who fled fighting in the Dubeiker area, the group said in a statement. Among the dead children were two infants.

Gulf

OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
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OIC Condemns Terrorist Bombing of Mosque in Islamabad

A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)
A Pakistani man reacts as people attend a protest against the suicide bomb blast that killed dozens of people, in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 February 2026. (EPA)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat strongly condemned on Saturday the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad.

The secretariat stressed its categorical rejection of terrorism in all its forms, especially those targeting places of worship.

It underlined its firm stance in condemning these criminal acts, which are contrary to human values and religious principles.

The OIC offered its sincere condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and to the families of the victims.

It also reiterated its full solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and boost its security and stability.

At least 30 people killed in a suicide bombing at a Muslim mosque during Friday prayers.