Latest news with #PrinceKhalid
Arab News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
‘Ambassador extraordinaire': well wishes pour in as Saudi envoy concludes tenure in London
RIYADH: As Prince Khalid bin Bandar concludes his role as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, his six-year tenure is being marked as a period of renewed engagement and modernization in Saudi-UK relations. As per Royal Decree issued last March, Prince Khalid has been appointed as an advisor at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is expected to head back to Riyadh in the next few days. Since his appointment in 2019, Prince Khalid has led efforts to strengthen ties and redefine the Kingdom's image across political, economic, academic and cultural spheres. His approach is marked by transparency, accessibility and strategic foresight as well as consistent outreach to both political institutions and the wider British public. In April this year, he was named Diplomat of the Year for the Middle East and North Africa by Diplomat Magazine, an award voted on by representatives of more than 180 missions in the UK. One of his final public engagements was an on-the-record panel discussion with Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas at the Frontline Club, hosted by the MENA-based think tank SRMG Think (videos above). Current British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton described Prince Khalid as 'an exemplary ambassador' and said: 'He tirelessly engaged the media, universities, and parliamentarians to explain Saudi views and illuminate the changes under Vision 2030. He will be much missed.' (Prince Khalid) tirelessly engaged the media, universities, and parliamentarians to explain Saudi views and illuminate the changes under Vision 2030. Neil Crompton British ambassador to Saudi Arabia Former UK ambassador to the Kingdom, Sir John Jenkins, said, 'Prince Khalid has been one of the best connected and most visible — and articulate — ambassadors in the whole of the London diplomatic corps … The Kingdom needs advocates like him, and we need friends like him.' Prince Khalid has been one of the best connected and most visible — and articulate — ambassadors in the whole of the London diplomatic corps. Sir John Jenkins Former UK ambassador to the Kingdom Among the hallmark initiatives of his tenure was the Great Futures event in Riyadh, a flagship moment for UK-Saudi engagement. The event brought together investors, policymakers, academics and creatives, fostering trade, education and public understanding of the Kingdom's transformation. Sir Ben Elliot, former chairman of the Conservative Party, commended Prince Khalid's diplomatic instinct: 'His unwavering dedication over six years has transformed the UK-Saudi relationship. The UK has now become the largest source of visitors to Saudi Arabia — a milestone he personally championed. He reshaped perceptions of the Kingdom with diplomacy, charm and grace.' The UK has now become the largest source of visitors to Saudi Arabia — a milestone he personally championed. Sir Ben Elliot Conservative Party, former chairman This vision of diplomacy extended beyond politics to academia and community engagement. Prince Khalid actively reached out to British Muslim communities, students and universities such as Oxford and Durham — not as formalities, but as forums for real dialogue and shared values. Othman Al-Omeir, veteran Saudi journalist and former editor of the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat, told Arab News: 'I have witnessed the tenure of seven Saudi ambassadors who served at the Saudi Embassy in London. In truth, Prince Khalid stands out for his profound and precise understanding of British society, and for the universal respect he commands due to his competence, capability and discernment. His presence was positive, effective and influential.' Prince Khalid stands out for his profound and precise understanding of British society, and for the universal respect he commands due to his competence, capability and discernment. Othman Al-Omeir Veteran Saudi journalist Dr. Najah Al-Osaimi, a trustee of the Saudi British Society, said: 'Prince Khalid changed the dynamic. For decades, relations were political and elite driven. He brought it to the people — through media, academia and civil society. His television appearances tackled complex issues with openness. 'I was fortunate to meet him many times, particularly through the Saudi British Society, where he is our patron alongside King Charles. Thanks to his support, we launched the annual Ghazi Al-Gosaibi Memorial Lecture. His efforts brought momentum to Saudi Arabia's presence in the UK's cultural, sports and economic landscape.' His efforts brought momentum to Saudi Arabia's presence in the UK's cultural, sports and economic landscape. Dr. Najah Al-Osaimi Saudi British Society trustee Prince Khalid prioritized public diplomacy, focusing on transparency and dialogue. One of his final appearances was at the Frontline Club in London last February— moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas — which offered a rare candid conversation about Saudi reform and regional diplomacy with British journalists and policy thinkers. Prince Khalid ensured Saudi voices were better represented in British media, academic panels and think tanks, earning him praise across the diplomatic spectrum. Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said: 'Prince Khalid brought a dignified presence to the Arab diplomatic circuit in London, especially during times of regional turmoil.' Prince Khalid brought a dignified presence to the Arab diplomatic circuit in London, especially during times of regional turmoil. Chris Doyle Council for Arab-British Understanding director Prince Khalid also deepened ties with institutions like the Saudi British Society, one of the UK's oldest platforms for cultural diplomacy. He supported its events and initiatives, highlighting arts, heritage and mutual understanding. Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, deputy chair of the Saudi British Joint Business Council, added: 'Prince Khalid's presence brought energy, engagement and a modern perspective to the bilateral relationship, particularly at a time of profound transformation in the Kingdom. We were honored to work alongside him to advance commercial and cultural ties, and we are grateful for his steadfast support of UK-Saudi collaboration. Roxana Mohammadian-Molina Saudi British Joint Business Council deputy chair 'At the Saudi British Joint Business Council, we were honored to work alongside him to advance commercial and cultural ties, and we are grateful for his steadfast support of UK-Saudi collaboration. He leaves a lasting legacy, and we wish him every success in his future endeavors.'
Bloomberg
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Gulf States Caught off Guard by Speed of Israel's Iran Attack
Forty-eight hours before Israel struck Iran last week, Tehran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, met his Saudi counterpart at an annual retreat for diplomats in Norway. At a hotel in a forested estate outside Oslo, Araghchi briefed Prince Faisal Bin Farhan on the progress of US nuclear talks, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. There, Prince Faisal repeated what his country had told Iran for months, including during Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman's visit to Tehran in April: Israel wants to attack you; reach a deal with the Americans fast.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Saudi warned Iran to reach nuclear deal with Trump or risk Israeli strike
(Inserts missing word in paragraph 2) By Samia Nakhoul, Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's defence minister delivered a blunt message to Iranian officials in Tehran last month: take President Donald Trump's offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously because it presents a way to avoid the risk of war with Israel. Alarmed at the prospect of further instability in the region, Saudi Arabia's 89-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz dispatched his son, Prince Khalid bin Salman, with the warning destined for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two Gulf sources close to government circles and two Iranian officials. Present at the closed-door meeting in Tehran, which took place on April 17 in the presidential compound, were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the sources said. While media covered the 37-year-old prince's visit, the content of the King Salman's covert message has not been previously reported. Prince Khalid, who was Saudi ambassador to Washington during Trump's first term, warned Iranian officials that the U.S. leader has little patience for drawn-out negotiations, according to the four sources. Trump had unexpectedly announced just over a week earlier that direct talks were taking place with Tehran, aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. He did so in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had travelled to Washington hoping instead to win support for attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. In Tehran, Prince Khalid told the group of senior Iranian officials that Trump's team would want to reach a deal quickly, and the window for diplomacy would close fast, according to the four sources. The Saudi minister said it would be better to reach a deal with the U.S. than face the possibility of an Israeli attack if the talks broke down, according to the two Gulf sources. He argued that the region - already riven by recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon - could not withstand a further escalation in tensions, said the two Gulf sources and one senior foreign diplomat familiar with the discussions. Authorities in Saudi Arabia and Iran did not respond to requests for comment. The visit by Prince Khalid - the younger brother of Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman - was the first by a senior member of the Saudi royal family to Iran in more than two decades. Riyadh and Tehran had long been bitter rivals, often backing opposing sides in proxy wars, until a rapprochement brokered by China in 2023 helped to ease the tensions and restored diplomatic ties. Over the past two years, Iran's regional position has been undermined by heavy military blows inflicted by Israel on its allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and toppling of its close ally, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Western sanctions, meanwhile, have hit its oil-dependent economy hard. Mohanad Hage Ali, an expert on Iran at the Carnegie Middle East Center think tank in Beirut, said that Tehran's weakness had offered Saudi Arabia the opportunity to exert its diplomatic influence, seeking to avoid a regional conflagration. "They want to avoid war because war and confrontation with Iran will have negative implications on them and their economic vision and ambitions," he told Reuters. IRAN WANTS A DEAL Reuters was unable to determine the impact of the prince's message on Iran's leadership. In the meeting, Pezeshkian responded that Iran wanted a deal to ease economic pressure through the lifting of Western sanctions, the four sources said. However, the Iranian officials, the sources added, expressed concerns over the Trump administration's "unpredictable" approach to negotiations — which have veered from allowing limited uranium enrichment to demanding the complete dismantling of Tehran's enrichment program. Trump also has threatened to use military force if diplomacy fails to rein in the clerical establishment's nuclear ambitions. One of the Iranian sources said that Pezeshkian emphasized Tehran's eagerness to reach a deal but that Iran was not willing to sacrifice its enrichment program just because Trump wanted an agreement. The ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran have already been through five rounds to resolve the decades-long nuclear dispute, but multiple stumbling blocks remain, including the key issue of enrichment. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Iran might pause uranium enrichment if the U.S. releases its frozen funds and recognises its right to refine uranium for civilian use under a "political deal" that could lead to a broader nuclear accord, according to two Iranian sources familiar with the talks. The semi-official Fars news agency in Iran quoted a foreign ministry spokesman denying the report. The White House did not directly address Reuters' questions about whether it was aware of the Saudi warning to Iran. "President Trump has made it clear: make a deal, or face grave consequences, and the whole world is clearly taking him seriously, as they should," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. Trump said on Wednesday he warned Netanyahu last week not to take any actions that could disrupt nuclear talks with Iran, and said the two sides were "very close to a solution now". Israeli authorities did not respond to a request for comment. HIGH STAKES A four-day visit by Trump to the Gulf this month annointed Saudi Arabia as the most prominent member of a new axis of Sunni states in the Middle East, filling the void left by Iran's shattered alliance. During the trip, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman mediated a reconciliation between Trump and Syria's new Sunni leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Tehran's regional sway, meanwhile, has been diminished by military setbacks suffered by Iran and its allies in the Shi'ite-dominated Axis of Resistance, which include Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iraqi militias In the meeting, Prince Khalid urged Iran to rethink its regional policy, noting such a shift would be welcomed, especially by Riyadh, the sources said. Although he stopped short of directly blaming Iran, the Saudi minister voiced concern over a possible repeat of the 2019 drone attacks on the facilities of state oil company Aramco - attacks the kingdom attributed to Iran and its Houthi allies, despite Tehran's denial. Iranian officials maintained that while Tehran holds some influence over the Houthis, it does not fully control their actions, the Iranian sources said. Decades of hostility between the Shi'ite Iran and Saudi Arabia destabilised the Gulf and fuelled regional conflicts from Yemen to Syria. The 2023 detente was driven in part by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed's economic ambitions and desire for stability, and has led to increased contacts between the governments. However, neither Saudi Arabia nor other regional powers see Iran as a dependable partner for peace and they fear its actions could jeopardize their ambitions for economic development, diplomats and regional experts say. Prince Khalid implored the Iranians to avoid actions by them and their allies that might provoke Washington, stressing that Trump's response would likely be more strident than his predecessors, presidents Joe Biden and Barak Obama. In turn, he assured Tehran that Riyadh would not let its territory or airspace to be used by the United States or Israel for any potential military action against Iran, the sources said.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Saudi National Defense University holds graduation ceremony
RIYADH: A graduation ceremony for the graduates of the defense ministry's National Defense University was held in Riyadh under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman. Upon his arrival, the Saudi Press Agency reported, the defense minister was received by Vice Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf; Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili; adviser to the minister of defense for intelligence affairs Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Seif; and director of the National Defense University, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Ruwaili. Prince Khalid watched a visual presentation about the university's programs to train and qualify military and civilian leaders studying at the university. He also reviewed developmental activities and events reflecting the university's institutional development plans.
The National
29-05-2025
- Business
- The National
UK and Saudi Arabia discuss defence links as Tempest superjet project progresses
UK Defence Secretary John Healey met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in London this week to discuss closer ties. After meeting, Mr Healey described Saudi Arabia as a 'vital partner for the UK in ensuring security and stability in the Gulf'. The two men discussed opportunities for closer defence co-operation, according to the UK's Ministry of Defence. The two ministers held an expanded meeting during which they 'reviewed the long-standing historic ties between the two friendly countries and discussed strategic co-operation in defence fields, as well as opportunities to enhance it in ways that serve mutual interests', the official Saudi Press Agency reported. They also addressed regional and international developments, along with issues of mutual concern. Prince Khalid also met National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin during the two days of talks, which ended on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia is keen to become the fourth partner nation for the Global Combat Air Programme that will produce the Tempest superjet, the world's most advanced aircraft, in 2035. The UK is understood to be open to involving another country. The GCAP was launched in 2022 when a joint company was established, equally owned by aerospace contractors from the three countries: BAE Systems, Leonardo and Aircraft Industrial Enhancement. The jet is intended to be a multi-role aircraft to replace the RAF's Typhoons as they leave service from the middle of the next decade. An official request was made by Riyadh to join the tri-nation project developed by Britain, Italy and Japan in 2023 and it was confirmed in January this year that talks were taking place. Japan has been more cautious, and initially opposed Saudi Arabia's inclusion, fearing it might delay the tight deadline to produce the aircraft. In December, the country's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said 'assumptions' should not be made about the participation of other countries. Italy has lobbied for Saudi Arabia to be brought on board, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly giving her backing to the proposal after meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Al Ula. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said last month that Saudi Arabia had more resources available than the other three countries as well as 'the need for technical growth'. The Tempest, as it is known in Britain, will have advanced stealth technology with the ability to fly without a pilot. It will also be able to direct swarms of drones, as well as incorporating artificial intelligence and carrying a large ordnance of missiles and directed-energy lasers. Using digital tools and advanced manufacturing skills, the GCAP alliance plans to build the jet in about half the time it took to launch the Eurofighter Typhoon. UK ministers have been warned to keep a tight grip on the budget of the £12 billion ($16 billion) programme after problems with other international collaborations. MPs on the commons defence committee acknowledged that progress so far had been positive but cautioned that previous projects with other countries had 'seen costs spiral and delays pile up'. Mr Healey also announced on Thursday that the UK government would set up a cyber command to counter a 'continual and intensifying' level of cyber warfare as part of a strategic defence review. It will also invest more than £1 billion into a new 'digital targeting web' to be set up by 2027 to better connect weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions to be made faster. It could identify a threat using a sensor on a ship or in space and then disable it using an F-35 aircraft, drone or offensive cyber operation, the Ministry of Defence said. Mr Healey said that the government was responding after about 90,000 cyber attacks from state-linked sources were directed at the UK's defence over the last two years.
