Saudi FM and Secretary Blinken discuss Gaza war, Yemen and Sudan

Update Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister discussed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ending the war in Gaza and developments in Sudan and Yemen during a phone call on Sunday. (AFP/File Photos)
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister discussed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ending the war in Gaza and developments in Sudan and Yemen during a phone call on Sunday. (AFP/File Photos)
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Updated 18 August 2024
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Saudi FM and Secretary Blinken discuss Gaza war, Yemen and Sudan

Saudi FM and Secretary Blinken discuss Gaza war, Yemen and Sudan
  • Blinken started Middle East tour on Sunday during which he will visit Israel and Egypt

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister discussed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ending the war in Gaza and developments in Sudan and Yemen during a phone call on Sunday, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.

The call between Prince Faisal bin Farhan and the top US diplomat came as Blinken arrived in Israel on Sunday on a Middle East tour aimed at pushing parties involved in the Gaza conflict to agree to a ceasefire deal.

He will meet with senior Israeli officials on Monday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior State Department official said.

Following his trip to Israel, Blinken will continue onto Egypt.


Saudi UN envoy, KSrelief official discuss aid efforts

Saudi UN envoy, KSrelief official discuss aid efforts
Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi UN envoy, KSrelief official discuss aid efforts

Saudi UN envoy, KSrelief official discuss aid efforts
  • Since its launch in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 3,135 projects worth over $7.1 billion across 105 countries

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, met with Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor-general for planning and development affairs at Saudi aid agency KSrelief, in New York.

During the meeting, they discussed the most pressing international humanitarian issues, along with ways to enhance cooperation to support relief work worldwide, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Al-Wasil commended the significant humanitarian initiatives undertaken by KSrelief, emphasizing that these efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving people in need around the globe.

Meanwhile, Al-Ghamdi lauded the active participation of Saudi Arabia’s mission to the UN in various international events, highlighting its pivotal role in enhancing the Kingdom’s global standing.

Since its launch in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 3,135 projects worth over $7.1 billion across 105 countries, in cooperation with 458 local, regional, and international partners.

The agency’s programs cover food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, education, emergency aid, nutrition, protection, early recovery, logistics, and telecommunications.


Saudi-UK military cooperation committee holds fourth meeting

Saudi-UK military cooperation committee holds fourth meeting
Updated 11 December 2024
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Saudi-UK military cooperation committee holds fourth meeting

Saudi-UK military cooperation committee holds fourth meeting

RIYADH: The Saudi-UK Bilateral Military Cooperation Committee held its fourth meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The meeting discussed bilateral relations, defense and military cooperation, and a number of topics of common interest.

Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, and the Chief of the UK Defense Staff, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin, co-chaired the meeting.

Senior Saudi and British officers attended the meeting.


Saudi foreign affairs minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart

Saudi foreign affairs minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart
Updated 11 December 2024
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Saudi foreign affairs minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart

Saudi foreign affairs minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart
  • Prince Faisal and Jean-Noel Barrot discussed topics of common interest

RIYADH: The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Tuesday from Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s minister of Europe and foreign affairs.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the two ministers discussed regional developments and topics of common interest during their call.


Saudi Air Force commander attends finale of Tuwaiq 4 military drills

Saudi Air Force commander attends finale of Tuwaiq 4 military drills
Updated 11 December 2024
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Saudi Air Force commander attends finale of Tuwaiq 4 military drills

Saudi Air Force commander attends finale of Tuwaiq 4 military drills
  • Prince Turki met air force officers from Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, the UK, the US, Greece, and the UAE

RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the lieutenant general and commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, attended the finale of the joint Tuwaiq 4 military drills on Tuesday.

Prince Turki arrived at Prince Sultan Airbase, located near Al-Kharj, southeast of Riyadh, where in recent days, Saudi Royal Air Force personnel and fighter pilots from eight nations have participated in aerial exercises.

The prince met officers from Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, the UK, the US, Greece, and the UAE. The air base commander and Maj. Gen. Mohsen bin Saeed Al-Zahrani received Prince Turki upon his arrival, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Tuwaiq 4 drills included maneuvers of tactical landing, flying at high and low altitudes, operating in challenging scenarios, carrying out search and rescue operations, and enhancing ground technical support.


UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says

UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says
Updated 10 December 2024
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UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says

UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says
  • ‘Now is the time for further investment into our country,’ says Starmer

RIYADH: Recent British deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE have created 4,000 new jobs in Britain and are part of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to raise living standards, he said during a recent visit to Riyadh.

Starmer was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital this week, where discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual economic interest.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are key partners of ours. So I’ve been making the case that now is the time for further investment into our country, as far as Saudi Arabia is concerned,” Starmer told local press.

Saudi Arabia and the UK outlined plans to boost economic relations and investment during a high-level business roundtable held in Riyadh. (SPA)

“For example, some of the deals we’ve done in the last few weeks have yielded 4,000 jobs, and so I’m here driving growth with the sole intention of making sure that when I say living standards will go up in the UK, people will feel better off that we’ve got the plan to follow through and deliver on that, with acts, with investment around the world.”

The visit included a high-profile business roundtable on Monday featuring Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Sultan, and Starmer.
 
Trade and investment: Key drivers

Trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia has seen robust growth in recent years, with bilateral trade valued at £14 billion annually. The UK is a key exporter to the Kingdom, supplying machinery, vehicles and pharmaceuticals, while Saudi Arabia exports crude oil, petrochemical products and significant investments in non-oil sectors.

FASTFACTS

• The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK.

• Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and healthcare innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.

Recent discussions placed a particular emphasis on diversifying this trade relationship. Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and health care innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.

The growing Saudi-UK trade relationship is fostering collaborations in education and training. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s investments in its ICT sector, projected to reach $37.5 billion by 2024, present significant opportunities for British firms.

“The Kingdom’s investment in ICT is a clear signal of its ambitions. For UK technology firms, this is a market of immense opportunity,” said Sarah Walker, CEO of ZainTECH UK, in a previous interview with Arab News.

Renewable energy at the forefront

A cornerstone of the Saudi-UK partnership lies in renewable energy. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a global leader in clean energy, particularly in green hydrogen, where it aims to become a dominant producer.

James Penlington, CEO of London-based Renewable Edge, told Arab News previously: “Saudi Arabia’s investments in green hydrogen are unmatched globally. As a UK company, we are keen to contribute our expertise to support the Kingdom’s sustainability goals.”

The Kingdom’s focus on renewable energy is in line with its Vision 2030 target of generating 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade. This ambitious goal has attracted significant interest from UK firms specializing in solar, wind and hydrogen technologies.
 
Expanding educational and training partnerships

The growing Saudi-UK trade relationship is also fostering collaborations in education and training.

British universities and institutions are increasingly playing a role in developing Saudi Arabia’s workforce, particularly in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and health care.

These partnerships are critical to Vision 2030’s goal of building a skilled and diversified workforce.

“Educational collaboration is an area where UK institutions can bring real value,” Lucy Harper, managing director of Tech Frontier UK, told Arab News on Tuesday.

“With Saudi Arabia focusing on human capital development, we are seeing opportunities to engage in programs that drive innovation and prepare the workforce for future challenges.”
 
Building on Vision 2030 success

Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has achieved significant progress in economic diversification.

According to official data, 87 percent of its 1,064 initiatives are either completed or on track, demonstrating the Kingdom’s dedication to transforming its economy and creating new opportunities for international investors.

This progress has positioned Saudi Arabia as a key destination for foreign investment.

The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK. For example, trade between Saudi Arabia and the UK reached £17.2 billion in 2022, marking a 68 percent increase compared to the previous year.

With Saudi Arabia advancing its Vision 2030 reforms and the UK pursuing new trade partnerships post-Brexit, the bilateral relationship has continued to strengthen.

The focus on renewable energy and technology aligns with Saudi sustainability goals, while UK businesses have benefitted from opportunities in the Saudi Arabia’s $37.5 billion ICT market.

These agreements signal a clear commitment to innovation and sustainable economic growth.