Saudi, UAE foreign ministers discuss regional security in phone call
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed regional developments and efforts to maintain security and stability during a phone call on Monday, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported.
The two ministers reviewed the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to preserve stability amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, according to WAM.
They also discussed the longstanding ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation to advance their shared interests and promote prosperity for both countries.
The call came a day after Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Abu Dhabi, where he met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Prince Khalid said Sunday that his meeting with the UAE president took place at the direction of the Saudi leadership and that he conveyed greetings from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In a post on X, the Saudi defense minister said the discussions reaffirmed the depth of the historic and fraternal ties between the two countries and addressed regional developments, bilateral cooperation and joint Gulf action.
WAM said the meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also covered efforts to strengthen regional security and stability and achieve lasting peace.
Prince Khalid separately met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, with their discussions focusing on bilateral coordination and regional issues of mutual concern.
Following the visit, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, hailed the Saudi defense minister’s trip as a reaffirmation of the strength of relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
“Our security and destiny are shared, and our partnership is one of the pillars of the Gulf’s stability and prosperity,” Gargash wrote on X.
The latest diplomatic exchanges come amid escalating regional tensions, including continued attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia and threats to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.
On Sunday, Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers meeting in Bahrain condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and called for a firm international response, while stressing the importance of restoring safe navigation through the region’s strategic waterways.
