RIYADH: Saudi Arabia reiterated its support for Tunisia’s security and stability, its confidence in its leadership to overcome the circumstances and achieve prosperity for Tunisians, and called on the international community to stand by the country to face its health and economic challenges.
The stance was confirmed during a weekly meeting by the Council of Ministers that was chaired by King Salman, where they reviewed a number of reports on Arab, regional and international developments.
The king opened the meeting by praising the success of the Hajj pilgrimage, which enabled pilgrims to perform the ritual in a safe and healthy environment, with no cases of COVID-19 recorded among worshipers.
Acting Minister of Media Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeed said the cabinet was briefed on all the communication between the Kingdom and a number of countries over the past few days to advance relations and enhance coordination, “to maintain international peace and security, as well as to strengthen multilateral frameworks through partnerships and collective action,” Saudi Press Agency reported.
The council of ministers said Saudi Arabia would continue to be at the forefront of contributors to supporting development, prosperity and peace for the entire world, which was included in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s statement at the financing the Global Partnership for Education summit held in London on Thursday.
The ministers said this comes from the Kingdom’s interest and keenness to support international initiatives and programs that enhance the economies of education and educational systems in the beneficiary countries, to provide high-quality services to those who need them most in light of the crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Council of Ministers also discussed the Kingdom’s statement at the International Conference on Central and South Asia in Uzbekistan, that it continues to work with its partners in international organizations to combat the coronavirus pandemic, foster an environment conducive to development and growth, increase trade partnerships across regions, and support all efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.
The relief aid provided by Saudi Arabia to a number of Arab and Islamic countries to tackle the pandemic is an extension of the humanitarian role it plays toward the most affected countries, to continue extending help and assistance, and to contribute to supporting international efforts, the cabinet said.
The ministers condemned the continued attempts of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to target civilian objects and populated areas in the Kingdom with ballistic missiles and drones, and to threaten shipping lines and international trade in the Red Sea.
They praised Saudi air defenses for thwarting these hostile attempts, and the Arab coalition’s contribution to securing freedom of navigation and the safety of ships transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
The cabinet discussed local and international developments to do with the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom’s inoculation campaign which has administered more than 27 million doses of the vaccine, raising the country’s ranking globally in vaccine rates.
The cabinet authorized the health minister to discuss with the US a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to cooperate in the fields of public health and medical sciences.
The cabinet also approved the regional protocol for technical cooperation to borrow and transfer experts, technicians, devices, equipment and materials in emergency cases.
It also approved a protocol between the Saudi government and the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) to establishment its regional office in the Kingdom.
The ministers also approved a joint customs cooperation agreement between the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the Bahrain Customs Affairs.
Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Tunisia’s security, stability - cabinet
https://arab.news/gxdfs
Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Tunisia’s security, stability - cabinet
- Cabinet said the Kingdom continues to be at the forefront in supporting development, prosperity and peace for the entire world
- The cabinet discussed local and international developments to do with the coronavirus pandemic
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.
