Saudi Cabinet Backs De-escalation Efforts, Reaffirms Right to Defend Holy Sites
RIYADH, October 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet backed regional efforts to reduce tensions on Tuesday and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s right to defend its holy sites, citizens and residents against repeated Houthi attacks.
Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the meeting in Riyadh, where ministers reviewed talks between countries belonging to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and senior Iranian officials.
The Cabinet reiterated support for mediation by Qatar and Pakistan and efforts to achieve peace. It also emphasized the role of the agreement’s member countries in maintaining regional security and stability.
Information Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary said the Cabinet praised Saudi air defense systems for thwarting repeated Houthi attempts to target Makkah, Madinah and other Saudi cities and facilities.
Ministers condemned the attacks as a serious assault on Saudi sovereignty and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites. They reaffirmed the Kingdom’s right to act firmly to protect the Two Holy Mosques, their visitors, and the country’s citizens and residents.
The Crown Prince also briefed ministers on messages from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, his reception of French President Emmanuel Macron, and official talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
On defense manufacturing, the Cabinet welcomed an increase in the share of military spending localized within Saudi Arabia to 27.3% by the end of 2025, exceeding the annual target of 24%. Local content reached 40.9%.
The Cabinet said the figures supported progress toward localizing more than 50% of total military spending by 2030, alongside cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Among its decisions, the Cabinet approved the Commercial Transactions Law and agreements covering customs cooperation with India, municipal and housing cooperation with Türkiye and Syria, and counterterrorism and terrorism-financing cooperation with Bangladesh.
It also approved a memorandum with Jordan on nuclear safety, nuclear security and radiation protection, and authorized negotiations with South Korea on digital government cooperation.
Ministers approved a model agreement for reciprocal entry-visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special and similar passports, authorizing the foreign minister or his representative to negotiate and sign agreements with other governments using that framework.
Other decisions included organizational arrangements for the Royal Institute of Anthropology and Cultural Studies, responsibilities for supervising and inspecting amusement rides, and the reconstitution of the National Water Company’s board under Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley.
The Cabinet also added the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to the committee investigating food poisoning incidents.
Source: SPA.
