Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz arrived in Cairo on Tuesday where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as they discussed enhancing military cooperation between Cairo and Riyadh, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia also discussed holding a “major military manoeuvre” in Saudi Arabia with other Gulf States and will form a joint military committee to look into the matter further, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
It was agreed to form a joint military committee to discuss the implementation of a major strategic manoeuvre in the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of a joint Arab force which includes troops from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states,” it said.
Egypt reiterated that the security of the Gulf region and the Red Sea is a “red line” for Cairo.
Prince Mohammed also met with Egypt's General Commander of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production General Sodqi Sobhi and Chief of Intelligence Khalid Fawzi.
During the meeting, they discussed joint military cooperation and developments in the region and efforts exerted toward them.
The Saudi Minister of Defense was joined by President of Saudi Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) welcomed a U.N. Security Council resolution imposing an arms embargo against Yemen’s Houthi militias and blacklisting the country’s deposed President, Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On Tuesday, Resolution 2216 was passed under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter and imposes sanctions against the leader of the Houthi movement along with Saleh.
It was unanimously adopted by the session, with Russia being the only member abstaining – without using its veto - citing that some of the proposals it had suggested did not make it to the text, Reuters news agency reported
As the resolution was passed under Chapter 7 of the Charter, the Houthis are expected to immediately cease their acts and adhere to the text, Qatar’s Ambassador to the Council Sheikha Alya Bint Ahmed Bin Saif Al-Thani said.
