Shoura Council, EU officials discuss strengthening ties

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Al-Sulami highlighted the Shoura Council’s oversight and legislative roles and emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening cooperation. (SPA)
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Al-Sulami highlighted the Shoura Council’s oversight and legislative roles and emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening cooperation. (SPA)
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Al-Sulami highlighted the Shoura Council’s oversight and legislative roles and emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening cooperation. (SPA)
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Al-Sulami highlighted the Shoura Council’s oversight and legislative roles and emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening cooperation. (SPA)
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Updated 27 November 2024
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Shoura Council, EU officials discuss strengthening ties

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council Vice Speaker Mishaal Al-Sulami met in Riyadh with an EU Political and Security Committee delegation, led by its chair Delphine Pronk, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The delegation included ambassadors from the 27 EU member states, the EU Special Representative for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio, and the EU Ambassador to the Kingdom Christophe Farnaud.

Al-Sulami highlighted the Shoura Council’s oversight and legislative roles and emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening cooperation.

The delegates praised the Kingdom’s significant developments and the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, SPA reported.

The talks addressed the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and the EU, ways to enhance collaboration between the Shoura Council and the European Parliament, and other topics of mutual interest.

Earlier, the EU delegation visited the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, where they discussed ways to counter extremism.

The delegation also visited the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh, where they discussed joint efforts to tackle global challenges.


Saudi Arabia intercepts more drones over the Kingdom, UK affirms support for the region

Updated 52 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia intercepts more drones over the Kingdom, UK affirms support for the region

[11:51 AM, 3/4/2026] Dalal Awienat: RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense official spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the Kingdom intercepted 9 drones on Wednesday, reported state news agency SPA. 

All-Maliki also said a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region of the kingdom and two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj Governorate. 

A statement from the Saudi foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned Iran’s attack on the United States Embassy building in Riyadh after preliminary assessments indicated two drones targeted the facility. 

The Saudi Defense Ministry said eight drones were intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh and Al-Kharj. The incident caused a limited fire and minor material damage to the embassy, with no reported injuries.

Reports from early Tuesday described a loud blast and visible flames at the American embassy, with black smoke rising over Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, where many foreign missions are located.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said in an X post, reckless attacks targeting innocent civilians are unacceptable and destabilizing, affirming her country's support for Saudi Arabia and its partners in the region in confronting these attacks.

“Iranian strikes on Riyadh, including on the US Embassy, are completely unacceptable. We condemn these reckless and destabilising attacks that target innocent civilians. We stand with Saudi Arabia and our other partners across the region in the face of these attacks,” said Cooper.