Saudi Cabinet Says Crown Prince's U.S. Visit to Bolster Strategic Partnership

📷SPA

RIYADH, November 18, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The Cabinet affirmed that the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States aims to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries across various fields, while advancing a shared vision for a secure and stable Middle East.

Ministers reviewed the Kingdom’s recent international engagements, including messages received by HRH the Crown Prince from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Cabinet also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s position at the 42nd GCC Interior Ministers’ Meeting, stressing the importance of collective security coordination to address regional challenges, protect societies, and support development and prosperity.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the session, Minister of State, Cabinet Member for Shura Council Affairs, and Acting Minister of Media Issam bin Saad bin Saeed said the Cabinet commended the Kingdom’s global role in tourism, particularly the Riyadh Declaration adopted during the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, describing it as a roadmap for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the sector.

Ministers also expressed appreciation for the patronage of HRH the Crown Prince for the fourth Global AI Summit, to be held in 2026, as part of efforts to make innovation and digital transformation central pillars of a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy.

The Cabinet noted the outcomes of the Digital Government Forum in Riyadh, which showcased initiatives supported by artificial intelligence technologies and highlighted progress in national digital transformation and service development.

Ministers praised the continued integration of national efforts to increase local content in the defense sector, noting that localization of military spending reached 24.89% by the end of 2024, with a target of more than 50% by 2030.

The session reviewed several items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

1. Approving guidelines for a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation between the National Development Fund and its counterparts abroad, and authorizing its chairman to sign based on approved guidelines.

2. Authorizing the minister of foreign affairs to sign an MoU on political consultations with Slovakia.

3. Approving an MoU on Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs.

4. Authorizing the minister of human resources and social development to sign an MoU on youth development cooperation with Hong Kong.

5. Authorizing the minister of finance and chairman of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to sign an MoU on customs cooperation with Kenya.

6. Approving an MoU between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration.

7. Authorizing the chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission to sign an MoU with Oman on measurement, evaluation and accreditation in education.

8. Authorizing the minister of education and chairman of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation to sign an MoU on technical and vocational training with Russia.

9. Approving an MoU between the National Competitiveness Center and the Singapore Ministry of Law.