RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired a Cabinet meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday, where ministers reviewed regional developments and security issues.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Cabinet welcomed progress and steps taken to begin implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
The agreement, signed in Makkah, aims to strengthen defence cooperation among the three countries and establish closer coordination in response to security threats.
The Cabinet also discussed maritime security and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s rejection of attempts to use vital international waterways as a means of pressure or coercion.
Saudi Arabia specifically rejected the imposition of tolls or transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and respect for international law.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, while Bab al-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is important for international trade.
The Saudi position comes amid continuing regional tensions and concerns over the security and uninterrupted movement of commercial and energy shipments through these waterways.
