Saudi Arabia backs Egyptian position in Libya, foreign minister says after talks with El-Sisi

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was received in Cairo by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday for bilateral discussions. (SPA)
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Updated 28 July 2020
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Saudi Arabia backs Egyptian position in Libya, foreign minister says after talks with El-Sisi

  • Turkish media: Ankara may send F-16 fighter jets, attack helicopters to support Al-Sarraj regime
  • El-Sisi and Prince Faisal discussed relations between the Kingdom and Egypt and ways of enhancing them across all fields

CAIRO/ISTANBUL: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday asserted the Kingdom’s support for the Egyptian position in Libya.

Expressing his hope for a ceasefire in Libya, he stressed the need for a political solution and spoke against external interference in the conflict.

“We will continue the coordination between those who have not tried to address this challenge. We will be in constant contact and we will be one hand to achieve the security and peace of the region,” Prince Faisal said.

His remarks came as pro-government Turkish media reported that Ankara is expected to send F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters to Libya to support Fayez Al-Sarraj’s regime.

According to analysts, the move is thought to be in retaliation against the Egyptian Parliament’s July 20 decision to permit the deployment of troops outside the country, and Cairo’s threats to attack Turkish-backed forces in Libya.

The Saudi minister's remarks at a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry followed a meeting earlier with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president, and held a session with Shoukry to discuss the relations between the two countries and the developments in the region, especially in Libya.

Shoukry told the press conference that Egypt would not allow the crossing of red lines in Libya, stressing that the Libyan Presidential Council needed to be reconfigured to operate under the supervision of the elected parliament.

He reiterated Egypt’s call for a ceasefire and said Cairo was seeking to restore peace in Libya and stop the military escalation.

He also stressed the importance of restarting the country’s oil pumps, and voiced his regret at the lack of political will to reach a solution.

In Cairo, journalist and political expert Ali Al-Sayyid said Egyptian-Saudi relations were currently at their best in years, and represented balance and stability in the Arab world.

“The fate of the two countries is one, and this one fate depends on both countries having one vision and idea that seeks to support the Arab world during the problems it is currently facing,” Al-Sayyid said.

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READ MORE: Egypt’s El-Sisi wishes Saudi Arabia’s King Salman a speedy recovery

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“What threatens national security in Libya threatens Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The national security of both countries is one,” he added.

Turkish journalist Metehan Demir recently said in a televised interview that the country was preparing to send aircraft to strategic locations like Al-Watiya airbase, in case Al-Sarraj’s forces launch an operation in Sirte and Al-Jufra in early August.

Another pro-government analyst, Hasan Basri Yalcin, also claimed that Cairo was set to deploy aircraft to support its land forces in the region, and added that Turkey would inevitably use its F-16s to preserve aerial control.

Sinan Ulgen, a former diplomat and the chairman of Istanbul-based think-tank EDAM, said it would make sense for Turkey to do so.

“The main question is that once Turkey decides to forward deploy its F-16s, how it is going to protect these very expensive machines,” he said.

Seth J. Frantzman, executive director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis, said Turkey may also seek to deploy combat aircraft to Libya in response to Russia increasing its own number of warplanes in the region.

“Turkey has prodded the US to support it in this endeavor and it appears that US Africa Command statements condemning Russia for deploying aircraft is part of supporting Ankara's position,” he told Arab News.

According to Frantzman, this means Turkey may feel empowered by the US to deploy more forces.

“This is the model that Turkey used to escalate in Syria and Libya. However, Turkey has rarely based its F-16s overseas, so deploying them to Libya would be a major step. It would show that Turkey intends to stay for the long-term in Libya,” he said.

Frantzman thinks that having Turkish and Russian warplanes in proximity in Libya could lead to the possibility of a clash over Sirte, and shows how Turkey and Russia are supplanting the former US role in the Middle East.

“Unless Cairo and others decide to step up, they will be left out in a region that is rapidly being dominated by Ankara, Moscow and Tehran,” he said.


Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse

A general view shows the Ariab company gold mine in the Sudanese desert, 800 kilometers northeast of the capital Khartoum. (AFP)
Updated 30 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse

  • The collapse of the gold mine in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan killed 11 miners and wounded seven others

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia offered its condolences to Sudan on Sunday after a gold mine partially collapsed in the country, killing 11 miners and wounded seven others.

The mine is in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan.

The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom stands with Sudan during this tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery. 


Jeddah panel explores declining marriage rates among youth

Dr. Khalid Sind speaks to attendees during the panel discussion. (Supplied)
Updated 29 June 2025
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Jeddah panel explores declining marriage rates among youth

  • Discussion highlights changing views on commitment, societal pressures, search for meaningful connection

JEDDAH: Amid changing values, shifting priorities and growing alternatives to traditional partnerships, a panel titled “Why is there a decline in marriage today?” has explored evolving views on love, commitment and marriage.

Organized by Ta3mq, a platform focused on honest dialogue, the event at Hayy Jameel’s Rukn Space in Jeddah featured panelists from psychology, community leadership and youth engagement.

It was moderated by Tasneem Alshanqiti, Ta3mq founder, and Motaz Al-Safh, a Saudi engineer and entrepreneur. The session addressed generational concerns, fears and new definitions of partnership.

Panel members (L-R): Tasneem Al-Shanqiti, Dr. Rozana Al-Banawi, Motaz Al-Safh and Dr. Khalid Sindi. (Supplied)

Reflecting on her role, Alshanqiti said: “I wasn’t just moderating — I was carrying the voice of younger women,” adding that she aimed to create a safe space that encouraged openness and reflection.

Panelist Rozana Albanawi, founder of Qeema and Jeddah_CM, said that the discussion explored marriage from societal, religious and psychological perspectives, focusing on self-understanding, compatibility over idealism, and the evolution of love.

Al-Safh said that he focused on creating a safe, judgment-free space for men to express vulnerability.

He described the conversation as “more like a talk between brothers than a formal panel,” aiming to help participants understand their fears and feelings about love and commitment.

The discussion highlighted recurring themes among Saudi youth. Al-Safh said that a few key issues kept emerging: Fear of failure, feeling unready, and pressure from expectations. Many question whether marriage today feels like love or a liability.

He added: “But beneath it all, there’s a real craving for connection, just done right, in a way that feels safe and meaningful.”

Dr. Khalid Sindi, a relationship and marriage psychotherapist, offered a broader national perspective by linking personal challenges to policy and social change.

Speaking to Arab News, he noted the ongoing transition in Saudi marriage values — from traditional to more modern — while emphasizing the preservation of core Islamic principles.

He highlighted government efforts under Vision 2030, such as the Saudi Marriage Fund and Sakani housing program, aimed at easing economic barriers for youth.

Sindi added: “Younger generations are seeking marriages that blend our cherished traditions with contemporary expectations of emotional connection and mutual growth. This represents not a rejection of our values but their natural adaptation to modern life.”

The panelists said that changing views on love and commitment reflected maturity rather than uncertainty.

Albanawi said: “There is high awareness among the generation now on marital topics, and many are seeking marriage with the right tools.”

She explained that conversation and dialogue help young people to commit while accepting uncertainty in relationships.

“The younger generation is looking for new ways to shape their marriage, such as avoiding unnecessary rules like high financial burdens or societal expectations that don’t match their reality.”

On the event’s outcome, Albanawi added: “A common theme was that marriages work best when couples marry early, are ready, and have family support.”

She noted that many believe delaying marriage increases fears and makes adaptation harder.

Sindi expressed a similar view on marriage’s evolving nature, saying that the changing views reflected progress and natural generational dynamics rather than fear or uncertainty.

“Rather than seeing shifting perspectives as problematic, the older generation should guide younger Saudis with wisdom and empathy.”

Highlighting the national context, Sindi noted the vital role of government initiatives in supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision for marriage and family life, demonstrating a commitment to making families society’s cornerstone.

Reflecting on the session’s emotional honesty, Al-Safh said that hearing men express concerns such as, “I don’t want to fail someone’s daughter,” revealed deep care often left unspoken.

Alshanqiti echoed the need for open, non-judgmental spaces, saying fears about failure and not being enough reminded her that many seek places where they can be truly seen and heard. She described the session as a step toward that openness.

 

 


Global sculptures at open-air museum in historic Jeddah

The new sculpture installations at Al-Arbaeen Lake reimagine public spaces as platforms for cultural engagement. (SPA)
Updated 29 June 2025
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Global sculptures at open-air museum in historic Jeddah

  • The sculptures form a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, blending the site’s heritage with the language of contemporary art

JEDDAH: As part of a broader effort to revive the region’s visual identity through art, Al-Arbaeen Lake in historic Jeddah has been transformed into an open-air gallery featuring a curated collection of sculptures by international artists.

Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city’s visual landscape, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Historic Jeddah's Visual Identity Reimagined Through Art Installations at Lake Al-Arbaeen. (SPA)

The sculptures form a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, blending the site’s heritage with the language of contemporary art.

Notable works on display include “The Illusion of the Second Cube” by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely; “Rouge” and “Flexibility of Balance” by Alexander Calder; “Circular Mass” by Arnaldo Pomodoro; “The Bird” by Spanish sculptor Joan Miro; and “Giving and Receiving Love” by Lorenzo Quinn — a powerful piece that reflects human values through striking aluminium forms.

FASTFACTS

• Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the urban art initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city’s visual landscape.

• Notable works on display include ‘The Illusion of the Second Cube’ by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely and ‘Giving and Receiving Love’ by Lorenzo Quinn.

The installations are part of a wider artistic movement that reimagines public spaces as platforms for cultural engagement.

By transforming urban environments into art experiences, the project invites both residents and visitors to explore the intersection of architectural heritage and modern creativity.

It underscores the growing role of art in shaping urban identity and fostering public appreciation for visual beauty in shared spaces of the Kingdom.

 


Saudi FM receives Djiboutian counterpart

Updated 29 June 2025
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Saudi FM receives Djiboutian counterpart

  • The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Djiboutian counterpart, Abdul Kader Hussein Omar, in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

The two ministers also chaired a meeting of the Political Consultations Committee between the two countries, during which they discussed coordination on key regional and international issues.

Saud Al-Sati, deputy minister for political affairs, was among the officials in attendance.

 

 


Saudi FM receives written message from Russian counterpart

The message was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to the Kingdom.
Updated 29 June 2025
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Saudi FM receives written message from Russian counterpart

  • Al-Khuraiji and Kozlov elaborated on relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The message, regarding Saudi-Russian relations and ways to support and strengthen them in various fields, was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh during a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov.

During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji and Kozlov elaborated on relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed, SPA added.