JEDDAH: A delegation from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid And Relief Center arrived in Japan, headed by Director of Operations Support Department, Faleh Al-Subaie, reported the state-run SPA.
The visit was organized in accordance with the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and with the cooperation of the Japanese Red Cross and the Saudi Embassy in Tokyo, to make a symbolic contribution to the victims of the rains and floods that hit Japan last July.
It also aims to recognize the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan at official and personal levels.
“This visit underscores the strength of the good relations between the Kingdom and Japan, the distinguished partnership between the two friendly countries, the continuation of the initiatives of the Kingdom and its positive humanitarian status in various countries, to reach all parts of the world,” said Al-Subaie
The Director General of the International Department of Japanese Red Cross Yousso Tanaka expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom, represented by KSRelief for this contribution to support the areas affected by natural disasters in Japan, indicating that it will strengthen the existing friendship between the two countries.
Meanwhile, general supervisor of KSRelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashemi, also the representatives of a number of international and humanitarian humanitarian organizations, at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE recently launched the “Imdad” initiative for $500 million to meet Yemen’s food needs and targeting around 12 million Yemenis.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said methods were discussed to meet the needs of the food security and nutrition sectors in the most affected areas in Yemen, mechanisms of access, especially under the control of the Houthi militia, and identify partners able to access those areas.
These methods are according to recent reports issued by the United Nations, indicating that the most vulnerable groups will be targeted children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah stressed that the UN and international organizations must stand firm in the face of the violations committed by the Houthi terrorist militia that have deprived the Yemeni people of their values and restricted their freedom.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah stressed both countries keenness to help the Yemeni people in all areas, adding “a team of specialists has been formed in the two countries to develop details and mechanisms of access to the most affected groups, hoping to see the actual and positive results of the initiative soon on the ground as well as its intended impact and required effectiveness.
A separate KSRelief team also visited Saudi schools in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to inspect the educational services provided to students of Rohingya refugees.
The project aims to provide educational services to students of Rohingya minority in Malaysia through teaching the Holy Qur’an, Arabic language, computer skills, science and mathematics, in addition to enhancing their educational process and mental health.
The Saudi schools in Kuala Lumpur were established in 1991 under the umbrella of the Saudi Embassy in Malaysia.
KSRelief meets with Japanese, international relief agencies
KSRelief meets with Japanese, international relief agencies
Saudi Arabia, Estonia strengthen cyber defense cooperation
- Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms
RIYADH: Estonia aims to deepen defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia as both nations look to advance technology‑driven defense and cybersecurity capabilities.
Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense, told Arab News at the World Defense Show in Riyadh on Monday that Estonia’s defense industry is eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s fast‑growing defense ecosystem.
“In the modern world, cooperation built on trust and technology is the best defense,” he said. “It is important for us to be here because we clearly see there is a possibility to increase cooperation, not only bilaterally between Saudi Arabia and Estonia, but across the region.”
At Estonia’s pavilion, a cooperation agreement was signed between an Estonian company and a Saudi firm during the show, he noted.
Pevkur also said Estonia’s defense sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by technological innovation and partnership.
“Our defense industry is growing very rapidly, and we continue to see strong momentum,” he said.
He said Estonia’s strengths lie in digital and smart‑system integration rather than large‑scale weapons production.
“We will not build airplanes or tanks, but what we can do is integrate robotics, automation and drones to make existing systems smarter,” he said.
The minister said effective defense collaboration must link businesses and governments to achieve meaningful results.
“When we want to have real cooperation, we need it on all levels,” he said. “The biggest client for any defense company is the government, so we must treat this as one ecosystem where the public and private sectors work hand in hand.”
Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms.
Pevkur said several Estonian companies, including Nortal, have already assisted Gulf governments in developing open IT and digital‑service systems.
“As the most digitalized nation in the world, almost every service in Estonia can be done online, except getting married,” he said. “But with such digitalization, we also need strong cyberdefense.”
He said data protection and digital resilience are treated as matters of national sovereignty in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
“Data is what we own. When someone steals that data, it becomes a serious threat,” he added. “That is why cyberdefense is not just about technology, it is about trust, sovereignty and protection.”
Pevkur said Saudi Arabia’s advances in AI offer promising opportunities for collaboration.
“I know that Saudi Arabia is doing great work when it comes to AI,” he said. “For us, as a small country with limited human resources, AI is essential not just for defense but for everyday life.”
Pevkur added that Estonia has launched a national AI strategy to promote responsible development and closer coordination between government and industry. One Estonian company, he said, has developed a system that allows a single operator to control hundreds of drones through AI.
“It is quite easy to put a weapon into the hands of a robot, but we also need to define who is accountable for its actions,” he said.
“The big question for the future is whether we can allow a war to be fought entirely by AI, or if humans must always make the final ethical decisions.”
He said in his conclusion that governments must reach a common understanding on how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield.
