Saudi Arabia, US sign Strategic Economic Partnership
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the summit addressed bilateral relations and coordination efforts to enhance the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries across various sectors. Discussions also covered the latest regional and international developments, issues of mutual interest, and efforts to promote security and stability.
The Crown Prince and the US President signed the Strategic Economic Partnership between the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. They also witnessed the exchange and announcement of the following bilateral agreements and memoranda:
A memorandum of understanding for energy cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Department of Energy. A memorandum of intent for the modernisation and development of the capabilities of the Saudi Armed Forces through future defense capabilities between the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Department of Defense. A memorandum of cooperation in the field of mining and mineral resources between the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Department of Energy. A letter of intent to complete work and enhance joint cooperation on ammunition, training, support services, maintenance, systems modernisation, spare parts, and education for the Ministry of the National Guard's land and air systems. A memorandum of understanding between the International Partnership Programme of the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US Department of Justice. A letter of intent between the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Department of Defense regarding the development of the health capabilities of the Saudi Armed Forces. A memorandum of understanding for judicial cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Department of Justice. An executive agreement between the Saudi Space Agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America for cooperation on the Space Weather CubeSat on the Artemis II Mission. A Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement. A Protocol of Amendment to the Saudi Arabia-U.S. Air Transport Agreement. A memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Saudi National Institute of Health Research and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the field of medical research on infectious diseases. A collaboration agreement between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the Smithsonian Institute through its National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
A collaboration agreement between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the Smithsonian Institute through its National Museum of Asian Art.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Vast majority of US refugee admissions will go to white South Africans: Report
US President Donald Trump's administration is considering allocating three-quarters of a significantly reduced refugee admission cap to white South Africans, Reuters reported on Monday. According to meeting notes reviewed by Reuters, the acting director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services, Angie Salazar, told people working in the refugee resettlement space that she expected the refugee admissions cap to be set at 40,000 for the coming fiscal year. Two other sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters that 30,000 of these spaces are expected to be allocated to Afrikaners, white South Africans who are descendants of largely Dutch people who colonised South Africa. The cap is much lower than the one the Biden administration set at 125,000 from fiscal years 2022 to 2025. Over those fiscal years, the number of refugees admitted was 25,465 (2022), 60,014 (2023), 100,034 (2024) and 27,308 (2025), respectively, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The resettlement priorities also mark a different strategy for the US government. Previous administrations focused on resettling people with humanitarian concerns, such as those impacted by war, or who were facing persecution. It also welcomed people from around the world regardless of their ethnic background, religion or sexuality. In comparison, the Trump administration is focusing largely on a group from one part of the world who Trump claims are facing a "white genocide", something that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and a delegation of white South Africans, who visited Trump in the Oval Office, have denied as baseless. Other groups that could be prioritised would be Afghans who helped US forces, and possibly Ukrainians, who have previously been resettled in the US. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Reuters that "no decisions were final" until a decision is made in October, praising President Trump for his "humanitarian heart". The news overlaps with a suspension of all visitor visas for Palestinians in Gaza, who are currently facing what is widely considered a genocide. The suspension will impact people in urgent need of medical evacuation. 'Selective' resettlement In May, almost 60 white South Africans were granted refugee status in the US and were resettled later the same month. This was in spite of Trump suspending the country's refugee resettlement programme after returning to office, leaving 12,000 vulnerable people in limbo who had been conditionally approved for resettlement and had flights booked before 20 January, as well as almost 90,000 others who had been approved for resettlement. US grants dozens of white South Africans refugee status Read More » While US vetting processes for refugees normally take 18 to 24 months, according to the State Department's website, the Afrikaners' cases were expedited. Currently, multiple legal cases have been filed against the Trump administration to enable those who were approved for resettlement to be allowed into the US, including a class action lawsuit filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). IRAP's Senior Policy Director Rricha deCant told Middle East Eye in a statement that, from his first day in office, Trump suspended resettlement for thousands of approved refugees who were vetted and scheduled for travel. "Despite multiple court orders, the government has fought tooth and nail to keep these refugees out of the United States, while selectively welcoming white South Africans. "We will continue to fight in court for the right of all refugees to safely resettle in the US, and we hope to see a Presidential Determination that recognises many groups of humanitarian concern that should be urgently resettled - including refugees from Afghanistan, Sudan, Venezuela and unaccompanied children of all nationalities."
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Trump administration has revoked more than 6,000 student visas
President Donald Trump 's administration has revoked more than 6,000 student visas since January 20, the State Department confirmed to The National on Monday. The State Department, which is responsible for issuing and overseeing visas, said that it had revoked the visas for a host of reasons including ' overstays and law violations". Fox News, which first reported the story, quoted a department official as saying the majority of infractions were for 'assault, DUI [driving under the influence], burglary and support for terrorism". The State Department said that about 200 to 300 of the visas were revoked under INA 3B, a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for the revocation or refusal of visas on terrorism grounds. The Trump administration has accused universities of failing to clamp down on anti-Semitism and has taken particular aim at foreign students who protested in support of Palestine during a wave of campus demonstrations last year. In pursuit of this aim, immigration officers have made several controversial arrests, including former Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil. Mr Khalil, a legal US resident who played a prominent role in pro-Palestine campus protests, was arrested in March by plainclothes immigration officers who said his green card had been revoked. He was released on bail in June and has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Trump administration. visitor visas for Gazans, even those seeking medical treatment after being injured in Israel's war on the enclave.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia and Syria sign pact to promote and protect investment
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih and Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Dr. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar have signed an agreement to promote and protect investment between the two countries. The pact was inked on the sidelines of a roundtable meeting that began in Riyadh on Monday morning. Senior Saudi and Syrian officials emphasized that the agreement is the culmination of ongoing efforts to activate strategic partnerships and expand the base of joint investments. It aims to create an attractive legal and investment environment as well as to provide practical frameworks that guarantee investment protection. This would also facilitate the flow of capital, contributing to the development of vital sectors including industry, services, infrastructure, and tourism. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Falih said that the agreement falls within the Kingdom's vision to strengthen its economic partnerships with Arab countries and create promising investment opportunities. He noted that the signing of the agreement with Syria reflects the trend toward sustainable cooperation that supports the stability and prosperity of the region. Al-Shaar considered the signing of the agreement as a qualitative shift in the course of economic relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia, as well as opening up broad horizons for fruitful investment cooperation that achieves mutual benefit and strengthens fraternal ties between the two peoples. He highlighted the importance of the Saudi role in supporting the economic recovery process in Syria. A high-level Syrian delegation, led by Minister Al-Shaar, arrived in Riyadh on an official visit aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The visit follows the outcomes of last month's Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum, which was held in Damascus under the patronage of Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and brought together over 100 Saudi companies and 20 Saudi government entities. The forum concluded with the signing of 47 investment agreements in key sectors valued at over SR24 billion. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
