Saudi Arabia welcomed on Tuesday the appointment of ambassadors between Egypt and Türkiye.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the move will positively impact security and peace on the regional and international levels and serve mutual interests.
Egypt and Türkiye appointed ambassadors to each other’s capitals for the first time in a decade to restore normal diplomatic relations, their foreign ministries announced earlier on Tuesday.
Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021 as Türkiye sought better ties with Egypt.
Normalization between Ankara and Cairo accelerated after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan shook hands in Doha at the World Cup in 2022.
Sisi and Erdogan agreed to exchange ambassadors in May.
Amr Elhamamy will become Egypt’s ambassador in Ankara while Türkiye nominated Salih Mutlu Sen to become its ambassador in Cairo, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Sunday a written message from his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the bilateral relations between Riyadh and Moscow.
Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji received the message during a meeting with Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sergei Kozlov in Riyadh.
The meeting was an opportunity to discuss and explore ways to bolster bilateral relations across various fields. The officials also exchanged views on current developments of mutual interest.
Saudi Arabia and France have agreed on a collaborative partnership to boost cooperation in the electricity sector.
This includes sharing knowledge on renewable energy generation, electric interconnection initiatives, and promoting private sector involvement in various aspects of electricity projects such as generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and network automation technologies.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman met with Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition of the French Republic, and issued a joint communiqué.
According to the communiqué, both countries have agreed to engage in joint efforts to enhance energy efficiency, and to promote their cooperation in the field of nuclear energy in a peaceful and safe framework, the management of radioactive waste and nuclear applications, and the development of human capabilities.
Addressing climate change and promoting secure, reliable, affordable, and sustainable supplies of energy are shared strategic priorities of Saudi Arabia and France.
Saudi Arabia and France also acknowledged that energy is one of the main pillars of their mutual long-term partnership, and the two countries affirmed their commitments by signing an MoU to cooperate in the Field of Energy on 2 February 2023.
Additionally, both countries recognized the importance of advancing the implementation of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement in accordance with the principles, objectives, and goals defined therein, including pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Moreover, the two countries recognize that clean hydrogen is an essential fuel to reach the shared objective of promoting sustainable economic development while mitigating the impact of climate change.
Both countries agreed to cooperate on advancing climate technologies and solutions including carbon capture utilization and storage for hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, aviation, marine, and petrochemicals, among others.
Saudi Arabia aims to become the leading exporter of hydrogen and electricity produced from low-emission resources globally, capitalizing on its ability to produce hydrogen and electricity produced from low-emission resources at a competitive cost.
The Kingdom has the necessary resources of renewable energy, natural gas, and carbon sinks, to export hydrogen in addition to its strategic location with proximity to major global demand centers.
Saudi Arabia’s Falcons Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force has arrived in the United Kingdom to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
The event will be held at RAF Fairford from July 14 to 16.
The Saudi Falcons will participate in the acrobatics air show and with the air-to-air refueling tanker (MRTT) for the ground shows.
Reputed as among the world’s most prestigious air shows, RIAT will see the participation of a group of acrobatic teams from all over the world with various aircraft types, including fighter jets, bombers, helicopters and transport planes.
A delegation from the local administration in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to enhance investment opportunities and promote trade.
Erbil has sought assistance from Riyadh in addressing the escalating water crisis that has emerged in recent years.
On Tuesday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw led the delegation as it arrived in Saudi Arabia.
The delegation included the Director General of Water in the Kurdistan Region, the Director General of Water in Erbil, as well as a group of investors and businessmen.
As per a statement issued by the delegation, they held meetings with various Saudi officials and investors.
During their discussions with officials at the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) in Riyadh, they focused on the issue of water scarcity that the capital of the Kurdistan Region has been grappling with due to drought and the effects of climate change in the region.
According to an official statement, SFD’s Executive Director Sultan Abdulrahman received Khoshnaw and the accompanying delegation on Wednesday.
The delegation, as stated in the press release, aims to “discuss enhancing trade exchange and cooperation in investment projects, addressing the issue of drinking water shortage, and benefiting from Saudi expertise in various fields.”
After providing an explanation regarding the issue of climate change, Khoshnaw called on Saudi Arabia to “make an impact in assisting Erbil.”
“The need for clean water is growing every day, and Erbil, regardless of its population, is home to hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people who have come seeking stability and security,” said Khoshnaw.
“Like any citizen in Erbil, they require access to clean water,” he added.
Moreover, the Erbil delegation discussed “details of implementing the clean water investment project” with the Saudi side.
Like most Iraqi provinces, Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, suffers from water scarcity, which has become more severe during the recent summers.
Last Sunday, Khoshnaw chaired an extensive meeting to address the issue of water scarcity in the province.
Several proposals were put forward to address the problem in certain neighborhoods of Erbil, as well as in districts, suburbs, villages, and other areas within the province.
Iran and Kuwait affirmed the importance of boosting cooperation to maintain the region’s security, safety, and stability, stressing the need for preserving dialogue between them.
Kuwait’s foreign minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the ministerial-level talks of the Non-Aligned Movement members in Azerbaijan.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting addressed the new regional and international developments and focused on the talks launched in Kuwait during the Iranian minister’s recent visit last month.
The foreign ministers stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation to preserve the security and safety of the region, while asserting the need to continue dialogue and support all efforts that would improve regional and international stability.
The meeting comes after an escalation in the gas-rich offshore Durra field case after Iran hinted there were “full preparations to start drilling.”
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad al-Barrak affirmed that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have an agreement over the gas field.
He told “Asharq News” on the sidelines of the 8th OPEC International Seminar that they must demarcate the border, urging Iran to enter “the demarcation of international borders, and after that, whoever has a right will get it according to the rules of international law.”
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have an understanding regarding the Durra field, said the minister, adding that it was early to talk about production levels in the region shared with the Kingdom.
Kuwait stressed that the Durra field is a shared Kuwaiti-Saudi natural wealth, and no other party has any rights in it until the demarcation of the maritime borders is resolved.
“We categorically reject Iran’s planned activities around the premises of the Durra offshore gas field,” said Barrak.
On Monday, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry confirmed that the marine area in which the Durra field is in the marine area of Kuwait, that the natural resources are shared with Saudi Arabia, and that they have exclusive rights to the natural wealth in the field.
An official source in the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the country renewed its call to the Iranian side to enter the demarcation talks with the Kuwaiti and Saudi sides as one negotiating party.
On Tuesday, an informed source in the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that ownership of the natural resources in the divided submerged area, including the entire Durra field, is shared between the Kingdom and the State of Kuwait only.
He told Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait exclusively own natural wealth, including the Durra gas field, in the Gulf’s maritime “Divided Area.”
Saudi Arabia renewed its calls for Iran to start negotiations to demarcate the eastern border divided between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as one negotiating party.
President of Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous met with Watcharapol Prasanrajkit, the President of National Anti-Corruption Commission in Thailand, and the accompanying delegation.
The meeting discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in protecting the integrity and combating corruption.
They also reviewed the course of action adopted by Nazaha in protecting the integrity, promoting principles of transparency, and combating corruption, in addition to the Thai experience in the same field.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has spoken by telephone to UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
The two leaders reviewed the historical relationship between the UAE and the UK and discussed ways to further drive progress under the “Partnership for the Future”, established in September 2021, WAM said Wednesday.
Both sides also discussed collaboration opportunities that advance both nations’ sustainable development ambitions, it said.
Sheikh Mohamed and the British Prime Minister also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their shared interest in supporting all efforts to achieve peace and stability both regionally and globally, WAM added.
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met at Bayan Palace Saudi Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz and his accompanying delegation.
The officials discussed the latest regional developments. They also exchanged cordial talks and reviewed the well-established relations between their countries and ways to enhance them.
Prince Turki conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Crown Prince of Kuwait.
Sheikh Mishal conveyed his greetings and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, and wishes for more prosperity for the Kingdom.
The US Navy said it had intervened to prevent Iran from seizing two commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday in the latest in a series of seizures or attacks on ships in the area since 2019.
Chevron said one incident involved the Richmond Voyager, a very large crude carrier managed by the US oil major, and that crew onboard were safe.
An Iranian navy vessel fired shots during the second seizure attempt, Navy Fifth Fleet spokesperson Timothy Hawkins said.
Both incidents took place in waters between Iran and Oman.
Hawkins did not say how the US Navy prevented the seizure of the ships or provide any further information at this stage. Details regarding the second vessel involved in the incident were not immediately clear.
British maritime security company Ambrey said a warship with a multinational navy task group was in the area at the time and had requested the Iranian navy to “cease harassing” one of the merchant ships.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said on Wednesday that Iranian authorities have not commented yet on the matter.
Since 2019, there has been a series of attacks on shipping in strategic Gulf waters at times of tension between the United States and Iran.
Iran seized two oil tankers in a week just over a month ago, the US Navy said.
About a fifth of the world’s supply of crude oil and oil products passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point between Iran and Oman, according to data from analytics firm Vortexa.
A Chevron spokesperson said: “There is no loss of life, injury, or loss of containment” aboard the Richmond Voyager.
“The vessel is operating normally. The safety of our crew is our top priority,” the spokesperson said.
The Richmond Voyager was sailing away from the Gulf with Singapore listed as its destination, Refinitiv ship tracking showed.
Top ship registries including the Marshall Islands and Greece have warned in recent weeks of the threat to commercial shipping in the Gulf including the Strait of Hormuz.
In another point of tension, the US confiscated a cargo of Iranian oil aboard a tanker in April in a sanctions enforcement operation, sources told Reuters.
That vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged Suez Rajan, is anchored outside the US Gulf of Mexico terminal of Galveston waiting to discharge its cargo, according to Refinitiv ship tracking.
Arab and European officials and academics noted a significant improvement in the Gulf-European strategic relations, especially on security and energy, as well as efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination through continuous and in-depth political dialogues.
Despite the hopes and aspirations set by the leaders of the Gulf and the European Union to push these relations to higher levels, officials and experts pointed to many challenges at the executive levels.
Dr. Abdulaziz Alawaisheg, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Negotiations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that the relations between the GCC and the EU were witnessing positive developments, especially in the fields of security and energy.
Alawaisheg was speaking in a video conference held by the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center, which discussed relations between the GCC and the EU, a year after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between the two sides.
“We agreed on 12 issues within the framework of this partnership… For the first time, we see Europe and the Gulf countries talking about energy security clearly,” he said.
The Gulf official added that the two sides agreed to “have frank discussions about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons,” noting that the European Union has become “more realistic.”
The assistant GCC secretary-general pointed to “a strong commitment by the Gulf States and the European Union to implement this partnership,” noting however, that its interpretation would be difficult at the executive level.
For her part, Birgit Loeser, head of the European Union’s Regional and African Affairs Department, emphasized EU’s keenness to develop a partnership with the GCC.
“We strongly believe in the importance of regional organizations, as they help build the international system that we want to be stronger,” she stated.
In turn, Dr. Haila Al-Makimi, professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, spoke about a set of important principles that must be available in the strategic partnership document, and the necessity to understand the general atmosphere in the GCC and the EU, while taking into consideration major regional developments, including the Saudi-Iranian agreement.
Sylvia Colombo, a researcher and consultant at the NATO Defense College, pointed to three structural problems between the two sides: the first is represented by prioritizing economic cooperation and trade liberalization at the expense of political issues and human rights, while the second obstacle is the promotion of bilateral relations over institutional ties between the two organizations.
“The third obstacle is working with governments and official bodies at the expense of more public engagement with other sectors of civil society, business, and youth and women stakeholders, which has slowed the movement towards more sustainable cooperation,” she said.
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