The Saudi Council of Ministers affirmed the Kingdom’s full support for the Presidential Command Council, the legitimate government, and the Yemeni people. To end the coup in the country and restore the state and its institutions from the terrorist Houthi militia, which chose military escalation as an alternative approach to peace, further deepen the humanitarian and economic suffering of Yemen and its people, and continue to threaten the region and shipping traffic in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
This came during his session chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in Riyadh, on Tuesday, where he followed regional developments and was briefed on the content of the Crown Prince’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and what took place during it in reviewing the prospects for relations and aspects of cooperation between the two countries, and discussing the latest developments in events in the region.
The Council appreciated the outcomes of the emergency meeting of the “Political and Defense Strategy Committee” of the “Mecca Defense Alliance”, and the emphasis it included on the solidarity between the three countries, and their standing together in the face of the sinful attacks on Saudi Arabia, which included Mecca, Medina, civilian objects, and civil and economic facilities, and the agreement that resulted from the meeting to activate collective deterrence, and the immediate transition to the practical implementation of joint defense obligations. In a way that enhances military readiness, integration, and the ability to confront these threats.
The Council of Ministers praised the contents of the annual royal speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the opening of the work of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council. Which summarized the established constants and principles of the state, the most prominent achievements of “Saudi Vision 2030”, the gains of development reforms and economic mobility, and the foundations of foreign policy and its firm positions that had a tangible impact in strengthening the country’s position and its effective role regionally and internationally.
The Council expressed its appreciation for the role of the Shura Council in supporting the comprehensive development process in the Kingdom, enhancing integration and coordination with government agencies, contributing to the development of the legislative and regulatory system, and raising the level of adequacy of performance, stressing that the aspirations of the citizen and the interest of the nation will always remain in mind in the work of state agencies. It cites and uses them as guidance in its decisions and strategic directions.
The Council of Ministers prepared the preliminary estimates for the state’s general budget for the next fiscal year as an affirmation of the strength of the Saudi economy and its flexibility in dealing with global changes and developments with proactive policies that support achieving national goals and continuing to spend on services and development and social priorities while maintaining financial sustainability.
The Council discussed reports on global conferences hosted by Saudi Arabia, praising the work of the International Forum for Social Responsibility, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the launch of initiatives included in its second edition that will contribute to activating partnerships with a societal and developmental impact and expanding the scope of sustainable institutional enablers in this field. In a way that supports national goals and enhances the comprehensive development process.
The Council of Ministers noted Saudi Arabia’s participation with the countries of the world in celebrating Teacher’s Day, which falls on October 5th every year. In appreciation of his efforts in carrying out his educational and pedagogical mission and his role in preparing generations that adhere to their noble values and national identity and to a high degree of scientific and cognitive excellence; To compete for progress and leadership in global achievement platforms.
The Council took a number of decisions, which included approving an agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkey regarding renewable energy station projects, authorizing the Minister of Energy to discuss with the International Energy Forum a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to discuss with Ghana a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of environmental protection with Syria, and the Attorney General to discuss with Albania a draft memorandum of cooperation in the field of related crimes.
The Council of Ministers approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the television field with Armenia, organizing the Higher Education Fund, renewing the membership of both the Chairman and the two members of the Primary Committee for Resolving Insurance Disputes and Violations in the city of Riyadh, and approving the final accounts of the King Abdulaziz Center for Purebred Arabian Horses, for previous financial years. He also directed what was necessary regarding topics on its agenda, including annual reports for the bodies “developing the Eastern Region, regulating electricity, and developing the Imam Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Royal Reserve,” the National Center for Social Studies and Research, the Horse Racing Club, and the Islamic University of Medina, as well as promotions to the 15th and 14th ranks, and the positions of “Ambassador and Minister Plenipotentiary.”
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, in two phone calls he made with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdel Ati, and his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Al-Safadi, on Tuesday, discussed the latest developments in the current regional situation, after reviewing the established fraternal relations that unite the Kingdom with their countries, and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields.
During the call, the Egyptian Foreign Minister renewed his country's condemnation of all attacks targeting the Kingdom, stressing its full support for the Kingdom's security and stability.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Dr. Abdel Ati stressed the need to maintain the security of sea lanes and freedom of navigation, especially in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab. They also renewed their emphasis on the firm position of the two countries in supporting Sudan’s unity and sovereignty and preserving its national institutions, in a way that preserves its security and stability, and meets the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people.
Also, during the phone call, the Jordanian Foreign Minister expressed his country's condemnation and denunciation of the brutal attacks by the Houthi militia that targeted areas in the Kingdom, including attempts to target Mecca and Medina, as well as civil and economic facilities, expressing Jordan's solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its full support for it in all the measures it takes to preserve its security, stability and territorial integrity.
During the call, the two ministers discussed the established relations between the two kingdoms and developments in regional situations, stressing the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between the two brotherly countries, in a way that contributes to supporting and strengthening joint efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, discussed with Iranian Interior Minister Iskander Momeni on Tuesday developments in the situation in the region and efforts aimed at reducing the escalation in a way that enhances regional and international security and stability.
The interview took place at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, in the presence of Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Interior and Commander of the Lekhwiya Internal Security Force.
Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained during a media briefing that the Iranian Interior Minister’s visit is partly related to discussing the fate of the three Iranian pilots who went missing while carrying out an operation targeting the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on the second of last March, shortly after the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Al-Hashemi said: “We are open to visiting the Iranian side to learn about the developments of the Iranian pilots.”
On August 17, Qatar denied detaining the pilots, and confirmed that it had sent an invitation to Iran “to review the details of the search and rescue operations last April, and the Iranian side has not responded to it yet.”
Regarding the US-Iranian negotiations and Qatar’s efforts to mediate between the two parties, Ibrahim Al-Hashemi, Director of the Media and Communications Department at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed, “Continuation of contacts, visits, talks, and exchange of messages between various parties and regional partners, to reduce escalation and reach a peaceful solution, in light of the size of the crisis and its repercussions on the world.”
On the other hand, Al Hashemi affirmed “the State of Qatar’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support in all the measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”
He stressed Qatar's support for the "Mecca Alliance" and regional initiatives aimed at protecting the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the region.
He also stressed Qatar's condemnation "in the strongest terms" of the Houthi group's targeting of Islamic holy sites and civilian and economic objects, and that it "considers it a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
