Philippine president arrives in Riyadh for GCC-ASEAN summit

The Philippine leader was received by top officials including Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region and Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. (SPA)
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Updated 19 October 2023
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Philippine president arrives in Riyadh for GCC-ASEAN summit

RIYADH: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has arrived in Riyadh to participate in the inaugural summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council, SPA has reported.

The Philippines is one of ASEAN’s 10 member states, whose leaders are scheduled to meet their Gulf counterparts on Oct. 20 in the Saudi capital for their first joint summit, following increasing engagements between the two groupings in recent years.

The Gulf bloc comprises Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE.

The Philippine leader was received by top officials including Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Riyadh, and Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC.


Saudi navy launches first Tuwaiq Project combat ship in US

Updated 31 min 15 sec ago
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Saudi navy launches first Tuwaiq Project combat ship in US

  • The launch ceremony was attended by senior Saudi and US military officials

RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) have launched His Majesty King Saud ship, the first of four multi-mission combat vessels under the Tuwaiq Project, in Wisconsin, USA.

The launch ceremony was attended by Chief of Naval Staff Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Ghuraibi, senior Saudi and US military officials, and representatives from Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri, the companies overseeing the ship’s construction.

Speaking at the event, Al-Ghuraibi welcomed the successful launch and praised the strong support provided by the Kingdom’s leadership to the armed forces, particularly the RSNF, which has driven significant progress in naval modernization and development.

He described the Tuwaiq Project as a strategic cornerstone of the RSNF’s development, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build a modern and professional naval force supported by advanced military technologies and comprehensive training programs for its personnel.

Al-Ghuraibi added that the project will enhance the navy’s operational readiness to safeguard the Kingdom’s strategic interests and protect vital maritime routes. He highlighted that the new ships are equipped with advanced combat systems capable of conducting a wide range of naval operations against aerial, surface, and subsurfac