Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince: AlUla Declaration strengthens GCC solidarity, security

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Updated 05 January 2021
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Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince: AlUla Declaration strengthens GCC solidarity, security

  • Crown prince thanked Kuwait and US for their efforts in helping broker the agreement

ALULA: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the GCC Summit on Tuesday that an agreement to mend relations with Qatar stressed the importance of solidarity and security among Gulf, Arab and Muslim nations.

The Crown Prince said the AlUla Declaration would be signed during the summit of Gulf leaders in the northwestern city in Saudi Arabia.

The declaration “strengthens the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among our countries and peoples in order to serve their aspirations,” he said.

He added that that unity was needed to confront threats in the region, in particular those from Iran.

“Today, we are in utmost need to unite our efforts to advance our region and confront the challenges that surround us, particularly the threats posed by the Iranian regime's nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, its destructive sabotage projects as well as the terrorist and sectarian activities adopted by Iran and its proxies to destabilize the security and stability in the region,” the Crown prince said.

“These actions put us in a position to call the international community to work seriously in order to stop these programs and projects that threaten regional and international peace and security.”

He thanked Kuwait and the United States for their efforts in helping broker the agreement.

Kuwait announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar would reopen their borders, a major step towards ending a dispute that started in 2017.


Saudi defense chief rallies international support amid escalating Iranian strikes

Updated 12 March 2026
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Saudi defense chief rallies international support amid escalating Iranian strikes

  • Iran unleashes wave of drone strikes on Kingdom’s Eastern Province
  • Missiles fired at Prince Sultan Air Base intercepted, destroyed

RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held separate phone calls with his Turkish, Romanian, and South Korean counterparts as Iranian attacks on Gulf facilities continued on Thursday.

Iran escalated strikes on its Gulf neighbors in retaliation for ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. 

After a brief pause Wednesday, drone attacks on Saudi Arabia resumed at 9 p.m., targeting the Eastern Province and the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter. All the drones were stopped, the Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed.

Missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj were also intercepted and shot down, the ministry added.

In his call with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Prince Khalid reaffirmed commitment to joint security measures and condemned Iranian aggression. 

His conversation with Romanian counterpart Radu Miruta covered regional threats to global stability. 

A call with South Korea’s Ahn Gyu-back similarly focused on condemning Iran’s actions and reviewing the broader regional picture.

The crisis traces back to February 28, when US and Israeli forces struck Iran. Tehran has since targeted Gulf states and US-Israeli assets across the region.

Iran has also declared a blockade on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas flows — sending commodity prices surging.