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“Given total exports of the industry are about $7 billion annually, $6 billion would be a significant amount for a deal,” said Anil Ulas Koseoglu, an analyst at Istanbul-based Is Investment, Turkey Aims for $6 Billion Weapons Deal With Saudi Arabia [Yahoo]

TOP STORY

FII Institute to hold 3rd edition of PRIORITY Summit in Miami next month

FII Priority Summit, Miami, 2025

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute has announced the third edition of its flagship event, the FII PRIORITY Summit, under the theme “Invest with Purpose,” the summit will take place in Miami from February 19 to 21, 2025. [more]

 

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Saudi, other OPEC+ ministers meet after Trump calls for lower oil price

Via Yousef Saba, Maha El Dahan and Alex Lawler in reuters.com: Saudi Arabia’s energy minister and several of his OPEC+ counterparts have held talks following U.S. President Donald Trumps call for lower oil prices and ahead of a meeting next week of OPEC+ oil-producing countries, according to official statements and sources. Trump last week called on Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices. OPEC+ has yet to respond, but five OPEC+ delegates said a meeting of the groups top ministers on Feb. 3 is unlikely to adjust its current plan to start raising output from April. On Monday, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held talks with Iraqs Hayan Abdel-Ghani and Libyas Khalifa Abdulsadek in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Saudi Moves Closer To 6th-Gen Fighter Aircraft. Italian PM Meloni Ready To Welcome Riyadh Into GCAP

Via Sakshi Tiwari in eurasiantimes.com: The GCAP, launched in 2022, is a collaborative initiative that seeks to design, manufacture, and deliver a next-generation crewed combat aircraft. The member states of the GCAP grouping seek to induct the first aircraft developed under this program by 2035. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems are leading the project as system integrators. On the question of whether the grouping will welcome the entry of Saudi Arabia, Meloni said, “We are in favor of the Saudis entering, but clearly this… will not be immediate,” emphasizing that the details of the GCAP still need to be worked out between the three founding nations. The Italian Prime Minister further added that opening up the multibillion-euro scheme to a fourth country will take time, without giving a tentative deadline.

Commentary: The Elusive Saudi-Israeli Normalization Deal - Why an Agreement is Likely to Fall Short of Expectations

Via Robert Mogielnicki in thecairoreview.com: The primary actors involved in a potential Saudi-Israeli normalization have strong incentives to portray a deal as a paradigm-shifting event with tremendous, transformative potential for the broader region. This normalization agreement is often described as an all-or-nothing opportunity that will emerge triumphantly within a game-changing grand bargain or else collapse spectacularly. There is good reason to consider another scenario more closely resembling the status quo: a Saudi-Israeli normalization that is considerably less encompassing and transformative than envisioned. Yet many foreign policy priorities of both Saudi Arabia and Israel now appear increasingly disconnected from normalization. The Saudi crown prince—and de facto ruler of the country—craves global recognition. Mohammed bin Salman wants to represent Saudi Arabia at G20 summits, court tech titans and financiers from the U.S. and Europe, and deepen relations with BRICS countries. As far as the Middle East region is concerned, Saudi officials have pursued a policy of de-escalation, which include reestablishing diplomatic relations with Iran and reducing economic pressure on the Houthis.

 

MORE ON THE KINGDOM AND BEYOND

Film and beyond: Leapfrogging into the global screen industry

Ongoing transformation in the global screen industry has created an opportunity for GCC countries to establish themselves as prominent players. As the industry grapples with...[By Tarek Matar, Karim Sarkis and Maansi Sagar via strategyand.pwc]

 

GAFT Leads Saudi Negotiating Team in GCC-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement Talks

The delegation consists of nine technical teams covering various sectors, including goods, services, investment, general provisions, e-commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, rules of origin, and...[via spa.gov]

 

US ambitions are a fork in the road for GCC crypto

After years of regulatory uncertainty under both Democratic and Republican administrations, Trump has pledged to protect bitcoin ownership and encourage blockchain...[By Carla Sertin via agbi.com]

 

GCC targets $188bn tourist spending as visitor numbers boom

68.1m international tourists visited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by the end of 2023, according to data issued by the Statistical...[via arabianbusiness.com]

 

GCC should target tariff-free food deals with Trump

Since China is the US’s third-biggest export destination for food and agricultural products after Canada and Mexico, Beijing may retaliate by...[By Martin Keulertz via agbi.com]

 

Will GCC get caught in a global trade war crossfire?

A recent analysis by Capital Economics highlights the consequences of these tariffs and their broader implications for global trade dynamics. The administration's agenda to...[By Issac John via khaleejtimes.com]

 

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy records best performance since 2014 in January, says PMI

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy started 2025 on a high as business conditions improved substantially. This improvement was largely due to the fastest increase in total...[By Yara Abi Farraj via economymiddleeast.com]

 

Saudi Arabia conducts military exercises with 15 countries at Air Warfare Center

Some of the Kingdom’s prominent military branches are participating in the drills, including forces from the Presidency of State Security and the Saudi Arabian National...[via arabnews.com]

 

Gulf sovereign wealth funds drive $36bn+ mega-deal boom as UAE, Saudi buck global M&A slowdown

Strategic inbound and domestic M&A activity in the region surged 88 per cent year-on-year to reach $36 billion during the first 10 months...[By Tala Michel Issa via arabianbusiness.com]

 

Saudi Arabia cracks down on employers over health insurance violations

The Saudi Arabia Council of Health Insurance (CHI) has announced penalties against several employers for failing to meet mandatory health insurance...[By Roxanne Libatique via insurancebusinessmag.com]

 

Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday.  The two leaders held an official session...[via arabnews.com]

 

Oil prices: The US is in a ‘delicate dance’ with Saudi Arabia

"Ultimately, we're going to see the seasonal dance: Gas prices are going to go up this spring regardless of tariffs or not, they're going to...[By Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton via yahoo.com]

 

Turkey exploits post-9/11 counterterrorism model to target critics in exile

The abductions were the latest of more than 118...[By Greg Miller via washingtonpost.com]

 
 

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