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  • Difficulties Facing a US-Saudi Security Agreement

    Aligning Israeli and Saudi interests is hard enough without having to balance them against the domestic political buy-in that the Biden (or Trump) administration would need for every element of a normalization agreement to move toward implementation. The lack of any significant support from the current Israeli government makes it harder still to imagine that the bilateral aspects of a US-Saudi deal could go forward, albeit that a civilian nuclear agreement might be reached without requiring congressional approval and could function as a sequential step in a longer and more-drawn-out process.

  • Saudi Arabia says ongoing Israeli military operations threaten regional security

    The Kingdom’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, made his comment during the 19th meeting of foreign ministers in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Forum, hosted by Iran. Speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Bin Abdullah, he stressed “the importance of doubling joint efforts and deepening cooperation coordination to face the many challenges, most notably the rise in conflicts, and the increasing challenges of food security and energy security, among others,” reported the Saudi News Agency.

  • The US does security and China does the economy: another narrative that needs to go

    I know it’s counter-intuitive because we all see stories about China’s significance as an economic actor and this is always paired with the idea that the US only thinks about geopolitical competition. And of course I think that’s a misperception that has taken root in so many of the narratives about China in the Middle East. But if I were a US official working in the region, I’d be pushing back on this every chance I got.

  • Saudi Arabia Tops Global Cybersecurity Rankings

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured the top position globally in the cybersecurity indicator, according to the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD). National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban congratulated the Saudi leadership on this achievement. He highlighted it as a confirmation of the country's leading role in international cybersecurity and a testament to its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030.

  • Saudi Arabia’s US$10 billion investment to tackle food security

    The Saudi Agricultural Development Fund plays a crucial role by supporting local farmers with substantial loans, focusing on staple crops such as barley, maize, and soybeans. These efforts are integral to reducing reliance on imports and ensuring a steady supply of essential commodities.

  • US-Saudi Arabia security deal could seal future of petrodollar

    Last week, reports emerged that the US-Saudi petrodollar agreement "expired", suggesting the kingdom would move to sell oil in various currencies, not just dollars. Some reports even claimed the Chinese yuan would replace the dollar.

    There was a significant increase in Google searches for the term "petrodollars" in the past two weeks, reaching an all-time high, Google Trends said.

  • US weighs plan for Centcom to coordinate directly with Palestinian Authority’s security forces

    US President Joe Biden's administration is weighing a plan to bring cooperation with the Palestinian Authority's security forces under the purview of Centcom, a potential reshuffle that some US officials say could advance plans for post-war Gaza governance. US officials advocating for the move argue it would bolster cooperation between the Palestinian Authority's (PA) security forces and Arab states, one current US official, one former US official and one Western official familiar with the plan told Middle East Eye.

  • UN Security Council backs plan for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

    The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian militants to accept the deal aimed at ending the eight-month-long war.
    Hamas welcomed the adoption of the U.S.-drafted resolution and said in a statement that it is ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan.

  • Saudi FM: Two-State Solution Basis for Peace, Security in the Region

    The FM, along with foreign ministers and representatives from European countries, was in Brussels to attend a meeting of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in the Gaza Strip.

  • Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meetings in Saudi Arabia and Israel

    Mr. Sullivan arrived in Israel from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where he held constructive meetings with the Crown Prince and Prime Minster of Saudi Arabia Mohamed bin Salman focused on a comprehensive vision for an integrated Middle East region. Mr. Sullivan briefed Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team on these meetings and the potential that may now be available for Israel, as well as the Palestinian people.