Saudi Arabia

Trump admin warns world:

Skip Palestinian state summit or face consequences

Washington issues warning as European nations, led by France, move toward recognition of a Palestinian state.

Arab ministers gather to attack Israel

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt accuse Israel of extremism and demand unilateral steps while sidestepping Hamas terror.

'Blatant violation'

Jordan slams Israel for barring Arab ministers

Jordan issues a scathing condemnation of Israel's decision to prevent an Arab ministerial delegation from visiting Ramallah, labels the move a "blatant violation" of international law and accuses Israel of "arrogance".

'No entry'

Israel to bar Saudi-led delegation of FMs from visiting Ramallah

Israel decides to bar Arab foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE from visiting the Palestinian Authority, calling the planned meeting "provocative" and aimed at promoting a "terrorist state."

Rubio hints:

'More Arab nations could join Abraham Accords this year'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicates that more Arab nations could normalize ties with Israel by year-end, as Washington prioritizes a historic deal with Saudi Arabia.

The American Daniel (aka Donald) in a lions' den

Trump is trying to tame the lions in their dens, but If the smiles of Middle Eastern dictators prove deceitful, the good cheer and largesse he spread will devolve into “massive maximum pressure” that paralyzes their economies. Opinion.

The Trojan Airplane?

Mr. President, don't forget your greatest ally: Israel!

To put it briefly, Israelis need to know that they’re not being left behind. American Christians who love Israel need to hear that their president still walks with them in solidarity. Conservatives need to know that “America First” never meant “Israel Last.” Opinion.

US and Saudi Arabia sign historic $142 billion arms deal

Landmark defense agreement inked during President Trump's regional tour; discussions include potential sale of F-35 fighter jets.

Trump kicks off Mideast tour with arrival in Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump to meet Saudi leaders, discuss Gaza and Iran, and receive luxury Boeing jet gift during regional visit.

Trump in Riyadh: 'A new Middle East is within our grasp'

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump calls for unity, peace, and regional transformation, 'nations must 'export technology, not terrorism, and seize a new future of peace.'

Report: Trump to meet Mahmoud Abbas in Saudi Arabia

Arabic media reports that at the request of MBS, Trump will meet the PA chairman and Syrian president this week. MBS reportedly seeks US approval for a Palestinian state.

Report:

Jared Kushner advising Trump’s team ahead of Middle East trip

CNN reports that, as President Trump prepares for his Middle East trip, Jared Kushner continues to advise his team on regional diplomacy.

Lindsey Graham:

'No support for security deal with Saudi without normalization'

Republican Senator stated that he would not support the Trump administration's move if it waives the demand for normalization as a condition for a security agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Israel normalization requirement dropped from Saudi nuclear talks

Policy shift removes Israel normalization as a prerequisite for advancing nuclear cooperation with the kingdom.

300 executions and rising:

Is Saudi Arabia pretending to reform but reverting to brutality?

Saudi Arabia wants credit for reforms while silencing the very voices that demanded them. Opinion.

Report:

US eyeing major arms deal with Saudi Arabia

Washington preparing a multi-billion dollar arms package for Saudi Arabia, potentially topping $100 billion, sources tell Reuters. The proposal is expected to coincide with Trump’s upcoming visit to the kingdom.

Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE in May

President Trump will embark on a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13–16, the White House confirms.

Saudi Defense Minister, son of King, visits Iran

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud is highest highest-ranking Saudi to visit Iran in nearly 30 years. He will meet with the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces.

White House confirms:

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia in May

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia in May, in what will be his first trip abroad in his second term.

First overseas trip

Trump confirms plans for Middle East visit

President Donald Trump announces plans to visit the Middle East in the coming weeks, marking his first foreign trip of his second term. The itinerary includes stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with the possibility of additional destinations.

Report:

Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on first foreign trip

Sources tell Axios that US President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, marking his first foreign trip since returning to the White House. No plans at this time for a trip to Israel.

Missile launched from Yemen falls in Saudi Arabia

Missile fired from Yemen towards Israel lands in Saudi Arabia; country's air defense says US forces intercepted the missile.

Macron and Saudi Crown Prince condemn Israeli strikes in Gaza

French President says he spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and they condemned the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Rubio to Saudi Crown Prince:

'There should be no role for Hamas in Gaza'

Secretary of State meets Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah, reiterates US position that Hamas must have no role in postwar Gaza.

Egypt’s Sisi to visit Riyadh for talks on Gaza plan

Egyptian President expected to visit Riyadh on Thursday to discuss an Arab initiative for Gaza that could include up to $20 billion for reconstruction.

Talks on Gaza:

Rubio, Saudi Crown Prince emphasize regional security

Secretary of State visits Riyadh, tells Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that any resolution for Gaza must enhance regional security. State Department statement makes no mention of Trump's Gaza plan.

Report:

Saudi Arabia seeks to broker deal between Trump and Iran

CNN report: Saudi Arabia has expressed openness to mediating between the Trump administration and Iran in the efforts to negotiate a new agreement aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.

'A fantasy of ethnic cleansing'

Saudi official condemns Trump’s Gaza plan

Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal rips Trump’s proposal for Gazans to relocate to other countries: The problem in Palestine is not the Palestinians. It is the Israeli occupation.

Saudi Arabia clarifies:

'No normalization with Israel without a Palestinian state'

Saudi Arabia reaffirms that normalization with Israel is conditioned on a Palestinian state, after Trump responded "no" when asked by Arutz Sheva whether the Saudis are expecting a Palestinian state as a condition for normalization with Israel.

The Saudi Seduction

The Saudis need our assistance with their sworn enemy Iran – and if Iran is successfully neutralized, how valuable does this treaty then remain for them? The answer is, not much, so why should we concede anything substantive in order to achieve it? Opinion.

Middle East leaders oppose Gaza displacement in letter to Rubio

Five Arab foreign ministers and senior PA official send letter to US Secretary of State, expressing opposition to any plans that would displace Palestinian Arabs from Gaza.

Saudi official:

'There will be no normalization without a Palestinian state'

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK: We are happy to engage in processes with anyone, but we do have some red lines, and for us to end the last 75 years of pain and suffering caused by one problem has to include a Palestinian state.

Middle East expert:

'Formal peace with Saudis in current situation will be damaging'

Dr. David Wurmser says as long as it is dependent on the Palestinian issue, it is better that Israel and the US not work to bring the Saudis into the Abraham Accords.

Syrian FM optimistic about stronger ties with Saudi Arabia

Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visits Saudi Arabia, the first foreign trip by Syria’s new leadership following their rise to power last month.

Saudi Arabia:

Execution toll hits record high despite promises of reform

Saudi Arabia executed 330 individuals this year, marking the highest annual total in decades, according to tally published by Reuters.

Blinken:

'Saudis even more convinced of the need for a Palestinian state'

US Secretary of State tells Foreign Affairs magazine that Hamas has been more productive on getting a ceasefire and hostage release deal done "because they’ve seen that the cavalry is not coming to the rescue."

Report:

Breakthrough in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia

According to the report, Crown Prince bin Salman shows no interest in recognizing a Palestinian state, but wants to appease public opinion in his country.

PMO:

Report PM made commitment on Palestinian state 'absolutely false'

Prime Minister's Office denies report a breakthrough was reached in normalization talks with Saudi Arabia with declaration Israel is committed to a 'path toward a Palestinian state.'

Gallant after meetings in US:

Hostage deal will lead to peace with Saudi Arabia

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that there is an opportunity to bring home the hostages, and connected it to peace with Saudi Arabia which would 'change the face of the Middle East.'

Saudi Arabia:

'Israel determined to sabotage Syria's security'

Saudi Arabia continues recent trend of criticism of Israel, this time denouncing IDF operations at the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

Saudi royal lashes out:

'Israel is genocidal and an apartheid state'

Prince Turki Al Faisal, who served as Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, denounces the Jewish state as "genocidal" and an "apartheid" state, expresses hope that Netanyahu will face charges at the ICC.

New tally:

Record 101 foreigners executed in Saudi Arabia in 2024

Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, according to an AFP tally, a figure which nearly triples the 34 foreign executions recorded in both 2023 and 2022.

In summit in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince accuses Israel of 'genocide'

As Arab and Muslim leaders convene in the Saudi capital, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman demands that the global community "immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon."

Mahmoud Abbas:

Suspend Israel's membership in UN

Speaking to the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called for Israel to be suspended from the UN and for international sanctions to be imposed on it

Iran-Saudi relations

Saudi Arabia's military chief visits Tehran

Saudi Arabia's military chief Fayyad al-Ruwaili visits Tehran, holds discussions with Iran's top military commander, General Mohammad Bagheri.

Report:

US, Saudi Arabia discussing agreement separate from Israel deal

Sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios that the US and Saudi Arabia are exploring a potential security agreement independent of a broader deal with Israel.

Saudi FM:

'Deals with US unrelated to Israel could go through'

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, says Riyadh could potentially act "quite quickly" on bilateral agreements with Washington, even if a comprehensive deal involving the recognition of Israel is not achieved.

Saudi FM:

'A genocide is happening in the Gaza Strip'

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, condemns the "complete blockade" of northern Gaza, reiterates that normalization is dependent on a Palestinian state.

Saudi spokesman:

'We participated in military exercises with Iran'

Saudi defense ministry spokesman confirms Saudi Arabia recently participated in military exercises with Iran and other nations in the Sea of Oman, but says no other exercises are planned at this time.

In first:

Iran and Saudi Arabia preparing for joint military exercises

Commander of Iran's navy says Iran and Saudi Arabia are preparing for joint military exercises in the Red Sea. The report has not yet been confirmed by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi channel suspended by Iraq for calling Hamas terrorists

MBC network's offices in Iraq stormed and ransacked by Shi'ite militia supporters angered by the network's description of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar as terrorists.

Saudi Arabia narrowly misses seat on UNHRC

Amid concerns over its human rights record, Saudi Arabia falls seven votes short in its bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. It was previously elected to the UNHRC in 2013.

Saudi Crown Prince: I don't care about a two-state solution

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he would be willing for Israel to conduct counterterror operations in Gaza following war. 'I don't personally care about the Palestinian issue, but my people do.'

Saudi report:

Substance painted on Nasrallah's hand facilitated tracking him

Saudi news channel Al Hadath reported that a man who came from Iran shook Nasrallah's hand and smeared it with a substance that Israel could track.

Saudi Crown Prince:

'No normalization without a Palestinian state'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Saudi Arabia would not recognize Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, criticizes the "crimes of the Israeli occupation".

Director of AAPI:

'What is needed for for Saudi Arabi to be involved in Gaza?'

Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI): 'The Accords survived the war because of ties between the people, and not just the leaders. Saudi and UAE have 2 demands to be involved in Gaza.'

Iran’s Ayatollahs bully the US

The are doing that by destabilizing Saudi Arabia which is already frustrated by the US State Department's attitude towards Iran. Opinion.

Report:

Saudi Crown Prince fears being killed over Israel normalization

Mohammed bin Salman reportedly tells US lawmakers he fears being killed as Anwar Sadat was if he normalizes relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

State Department confirms:

US to resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia

The ban was imposed in 2021 amid concerns about the toll of the Saudi-led war against the Houthis in Yemen.

Biden to lift ban on sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia

Sources say Biden has decided to lift a ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a three-year-old policy, amid tensions in the Middle East.