Abu Dhabi, UAE – In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at Qasr Al Watan on Wednesday. The top-level talks, with senior security advisers from both countries, focused on increased Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) coordination as tensions in the region continue to simmer.
Top Discussion Points
• Yemen Ceasefire Monitoring: Mutual evaluation of Houthi adherence in the face of Red Sea shipping danger
• GCC Defense Integration: Speeding up the Peninsula Shield combined military initiative
• Economic Security: Securing key infrastructure such as oil installations against drone attacks
Strategic Timing:
The sit-down comes days following OPEC+ output decisions and before the GCC Summit in Doha later this month. Onlookers point out that UAE-Saudi defense talks have gone bi-monthly since 2023, testifying to increasing synchronization.
