Special Security Forces held a second joint tactical training exercise dubbed “Watan 87” at the Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz City for Special Operations and Applications of Advanced Emergency Forces in Medina, photos from the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) show.
Saudi Arabia began naval war games including live fire exercises on Tuesday in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, official media reported, “a move that coincides with heightened tensions with regional rival Iran,” Reuters reports.
Aseer is a region of Saudi Arabia located in the southwest of the country, near the border with Yemen. Geographically, it’s not what you think of when you think of Saudi Arabia. Aseer is home to Saudi Arabia’s highest elevations and receives more rain than the rest of the country.
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki was also in attendance. The Prince spoke to students and fielded questions from individuals.
According to Reuters, the Senators were impressed with the young prince’s goals to move Saudi Arabia beyond oil with its “Vision 2030” economic plan. Republican Senator Bob Corker, who chairs the Foreign Relations committee, said “I know that there are tremendous cultural challenges that he’ll have to overcome, but if he’s 50 percent successful, it will […]
“I want to thank you for the many things that Saudi Arabia is working on with us to great effect,” Kerry told Salman at the beginning of their closed-door meeting.
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter met with top Saudi military leaders, including Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed military cooperation and the latest developments in the Middle East region, including “Iranian interference in the affairs of countries in the region” and the fight against terrorism, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The 12-day “Northern Thunder” drill in the kingdom’s northeast included 20 nations from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Saudi officials said.
A display of Saudi and allied military capabilities took place in February, with 20 countries participating in the drills.
I’m very grateful to my counterpart and longtime friend, Adel al-Jubeir, for his hosting this meeting here today and making arrangements on short notice for us to be able to discuss some very important issues.
