Egypt, Qatar to Boost Military Cooperation through Training, Exchange of Expertise

Egypt and Qatar agreed to coordinate efforts to confront challenges in the region. (Egyptian military spokesman)
Egypt and Qatar agreed to coordinate efforts to confront challenges in the region. (Egyptian military spokesman)
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Egypt, Qatar to Boost Military Cooperation through Training, Exchange of Expertise

Egypt and Qatar agreed to coordinate efforts to confront challenges in the region. (Egyptian military spokesman)
Egypt and Qatar agreed to coordinate efforts to confront challenges in the region. (Egyptian military spokesman)

Egypt and Qatar are boosting their military cooperation, focusing on joint training and the exchange of expertise. Both countries have agreed to coordinate efforts to address regional challenges.

According to a statement by the Egyptian military spokesperson on Saturday, Egypt’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa met with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah during an official visit to Qatar.

The meeting covered several topics of mutual interest and underlined “a shared vision regarding developments and the challenges facing regional security, and the importance of coordinating efforts and working together to tackle these challenges.”

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been leading mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. In November 2023, they successfully brokered the first ceasefire, but a second agreement has faced difficulties amid ongoing negotiations.

During the meeting, Qatar’s Chief of Staff expressed his country’s commitment to expanding military cooperation with Egypt in the future.

Since the normalization of relations between Cairo and Doha in 2021, the partnership between the two countries has grown, supported by high-level reciprocal visits.

This renewed cooperation has also positively impacted the economic sector. Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly commended Qatar’s announcement in March 2022 of a $5 billion investment in an interview with Qatar News Agency last year.

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,Dr. Badr Abdelatty also emphasized during his visit to Qatar in late July the “significant transformation in Egyptian-Qatari relations over the past two years, with summit-level visits providing a strong boost across all areas.”

The Chiefs of Staff of Egypt and Qatar also visited the Al-Zaeem Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah Air Academy, where they were briefed on the college’s advanced capabilities and training systems for preparing Qatari pilots using the latest global standards.

Additionally, they visited the National Service Academy where they reviewed the academy’s role and operational system, which adopts scientific methods to prepare and qualify Qatari youth for various functions in national service.

Several senior officials from both the Egyptian and Qatari armed forces participated in the meetings and visits.



King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
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King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said it has set up the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah in Gaza, as thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war grapple with harsh winter conditions brought by a cold and rainy weather system this week.

Fahad Al-Osaimi, the center’s director of emergency relief, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the camp is sheltering more than 200 displaced families, with the number of beneficiaries exceeding 2,000 women, children and elderly people whose homes and tents were damaged or destroyed by the war and recent weather conditions.

He said the center is currently operating under a rapid response mechanism to appeals received by its operations and emergency room in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Osaimi said two fully equipped camps were completed this week, and that preparations are underway to establish several additional camps in coordination with relevant United Nations agencies, based on assessed needs on the ground.

He said the camp is playing a critical role in providing refuge to hundreds of families whose tents were flooded or collapsed due to heavy rainfall, offering safer shelter that helps mitigate humanitarian risks, particularly for children, women and the elderly.

Al-Osaimi said the center’s efforts extend beyond emergency shelter, noting that work is ongoing to establish organized camps that meet international humanitarian response standards and to ensure they are supplied with essential services.

These services include blankets, shelter materials, clothing for women and children, sanitation facilities such as toilets, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies, in addition to other forms of relief assistance as needs arise.

He said the interventions form part of KSrelief’s sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering of displaced people in the Gaza Strip and bolster their resilience amid severe humanitarian and weather conditions.

The deteriorating weather has coincided with growing uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire agreement and the possibility of moving to its second phase. According to local and international organizations, living conditions for displaced people continue to worsen.

Against this backdrop, the establishment of the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah marks a fresh chapter in Saudi Arabia’s emergency response to Palestinians, particularly Gaza residents, since the outbreak of the war following Oct. 7, 2023, providing lifelines to more than 2,000 people facing mounting challenges.


Saudi Interior Minister Meets with Kazakh Counterpart

The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Interior Minister Meets with Kazakh Counterpart

The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Interior met on Thursday with his Kazakh counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh on Thursday Kazakhstan’s Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance security cooperation between the two ministries, in addition to reviewing a number of topics of mutual interest.


Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with South Korean Counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
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Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with South Korean Counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan - File Photo

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Thursday with South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, SPA reported.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments and issues of mutual interest.