Saudi Arabia backs all efforts to defuse regional tensions

RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment to advancing regional de-escalation, underscoring its strong support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions, particularly the mediation efforts spearheaded by Qatar and Pakistan. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session in Riyadh. The Cabinet discussed the content of talks held on Monday between states party to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement—Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan—and senior officials of Iran. The Cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to establishing regional and international security and stability, the pivotal role of the Makkah Agreement states in ensuring regional security. It reiterated the Kingdom's support for mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, as well as for all endeavors aimed at achieving peace. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Cabinet commended the advanced capabilities of the air defense systems and their success in foiling the Houthi terrorist militia's repeated attempts to target Makkah, Madinah, and a number of Saudi cities and facilities. The Cabinet condemned these criminal attacks as a grave aggression against the Kingdom's sovereignty and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, and a flagrant provocation to Muslims worldwide. The Council affirmed the Kingdom's legitimate right to defend with full resolve the security of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, as well as the country's citizens and residents. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of two letters received by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman from President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Crown Prince from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Al-Dossary said the Crown Prince also briefed the Cabinet on his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and the outcomes of his official talks with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which underscored the strength of the historic relations between the two countries and their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across various fields. The Cabinet commended the increase in localization rate of military spending in the Kingdom, which reached 27.3 percent by the end of 2025, surpassing the annual target of 24 percent, with local content rising to 40.9 percent. This reflects robust national capabilities and supports integrated public-private efforts, advancing steadily toward the goal of localizing more than 50 percent of total military spending by 2030.The Cabinet further reviewed several government performance indicators and progress in administration, governance, and institutional excellence.The Cabinet commended the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for winning an international award from the Project Management Institute, outperforming 53 entities from 28 countries, in recognition of its contribution to enhancing the effectiveness of initiative implementation, achieving targets, and aligning them with national priorities.The Cabinet approved the Commercial Transactions Law. It endorsed the draft agreement between the Saudi government and the governments of other countries concerning the exemption of holders of diplomatic, special, or similar passports from entry visa requirements. Minister of foreign affairs or his deputy is also authorized to discuss and sign the draft agreement with the governments of several countries, in accordance with its provisions. The Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi government and the government of Turkey in the municipal and housing sectors, and an agreement between the Saudi government and the government of India on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. The Cabinet approved a MoU in the municipal and housing sectors between the Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Syrian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and another MoU between the Saudi Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission and the Jordanian Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission to enhance cooperation in the fields of nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection. The Council has authorized Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital Government Authority or his deputy to discuss with the Korean side the draft MoU between the authority and the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety on cooperation in the field of digital government. The Cabinet approved the cooperation agreement between the Saudi Presidency of State Security and the Bangladesh National Security Intelligence Service in the field of combating terrorism and its financing. It endorsed organizational arrangements for the Royal Institute of Anthropology and Cultural Studies. The Cabinet approved the roles, responsibilities, and powers of the entities tasked with supervising, inspecting, and monitoring electronic games.