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  • Saudi’s SAMA Warns Against Cryptocurrencies
     

    The Saudi government has outlawed using and trading in Bitcoin, citing the high risk and negative consequences in the cryptocurrency. Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency (SAMA) warned against trading in digital currencies for “their negative consequences and high risks on traders as they are out of government supervision.” SAMA continued that cyptocurrencies like Bitcoin “are illegal in the kingdom […]

     
  • Reports: Houthis Thwarted in Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker
     

    Iran- backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were foiled in an attack in international waters on a Saudi oil tanker, the Saudi Gazette and major news services report. As a result of the “immediate intervention of the [Saudi-backed] Coalition’s fleet” the oil tanker only “sustained minimal damages” in the waters off of port city Hodeidah, the Saudi Press […]

     
  • Report Says U.S., Saudi Arabia Officials Working Closely on Ongoing Economic, Security Cooperation
     

    U.S. government teams spent three days in Saudi Arabia discussing ways to cut off money flows to Iran without disrupting energy markets, Bloomberg reports, ahead of U.S. efforts to press nations to stop buying Iranian oil by Nov. 4. The report, which cited a senior State Department official, said that envoys from the State and Treasury departments and […]

     
  • Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Khaled bin Salman Issues Statement on Hodaidah
     

    Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States HRH Prince Khaled bin Salman has issued a statement on Twitter concerning the recent moves by the Kingdom and its Arab allies on the port city of Hodaidah in Yemen, blasting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for worsening the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country. Yesterday, Saudi Arabia and […]

     
  • New Tax Gains Redistributed to Support Saudi Safety Net but Takes Toll on Balance Sheet, Report Says
     

    New tax earnings for Saudi Arabia’s government were offset by expenditures toward programs comprising the Kingdom’s safety net for lower income citizens, according to a Bloomberg report which cited Ministry of Finance figures. The increase in the kingdom’s spending on wages and social benefits during the first quarter “exceeded what it accrued through higher taxes […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia Applauds Trump Decision on Iran Nuclear Deal
     

    Saudi Arabia has embraced President Trump’s decision yesterday to pull the United States out of the JCPoA, the agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions by offering sanctions relief in exchange for Iran’s compliance with non-proliferation standards, according to statements made by top Saudi officials and the Saudi Press Agency. As the chief rival of Iran in […]

     
  • 4 Dead, 4 Wounded in Gun Attack on Checkpoint in Asir, Saudi Arabia
     

    Four Saudi officers were shot dead and four others wounded Thursday when their checkpoint came under gunfire in southern Asir province, according to reports citing information from the Saudi Press Agency and Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry. According to reports, three officers were “instantly killed” when the outpost came under attack, the Saudi Press Agency reported, without specifying who […]

     
  • Will Saudi Arabia Send Troops to Syria? Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir Says Talks with U.S. Ongoing
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said it is “in discussions with the United States about sending troops to Syria,” according to the Washington Post, as President Trump seeks a way out for the U.S. military there. In comments to reporters in Riyadh, Al-Jubeir said the deliberations on what type of force needs to remain in […]

     
  • U.S. State Department Approves $1.31 Billion in Artillery Sales to Saudi Arabia
     

    The State Department approved a sale of $1.31 billion in artillery to Saudi Arabia, giving “a vote of confidence to the Saudi military as young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concludes a marathon tour of the United States,” the Washington Post reports. The possible sale is for “155mm M109A5/A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer structures for conversion to M109A6 […]

     
  • Trump, King Salman Speak by Phone; Trump Urges End to Qatar Crisis
     

    President Trump and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman spoke by phone yesterday and discussed a number of regional issues, according to a readout of the call and wire reports. On the call, Trump “emphasized the importance of resolving the Gulf dispute and restoring a united Gulf Cooperation Council to counter Iranian malign influence and defeat terrorists and extremists.” The leaders […]

     

MUST-READS

  • The Middle East and North Africa in International Relations: The Changing Dynamics of Regional and National Security

    The security dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa have undergone periods of radical change ever since the end of World War II. They now are experiencing another series of radical shifts – in part, as a result of the civil forces that led to the popular uprisings and political forces that led to the “Arab Spring,” the rise of extremism and terrorism, and the major changes in the character of regional and external military forces.

  • Biden to Host Qatar’s Leader in Bid for Europe Energy Security

    U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar’s ruler are due to discuss shoring up energy supplies to Europe and diplomacy with the Taliban when they meet at the White House on Monday. Biden will update Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on efforts for a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Ukraine, which has led the U.S. to ask Qatar to step up supplies of liquefied natural gas if fallout from a Russian invasion leads to energy shortages in Europe.

  • Security enterprise in Saudi has new leadership

    USA-MAG (formerly known as MOI-MAG) is based in Riyadh, where U.S. service members and Army civilians provide advice and assistance in training, engineering and explosive ordnance, and lead the International Military Education and Training program for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior. USA-MAG is fully funded by the government of Saudi Arabia through foreign military sales cases executed by Security Assistance Command.

  • U.N. chief tells Security Council: Afghanistan ‘hanging by thread’

    Some $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank reserves remain blocked abroad and international development support has dried up since the Taliban seized power in August. Donors seek to use the money as leverage over the Taliban on issues including human rights.

  • Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with UAE and Saudi Arabia Ambassadors to the United States

    Today National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with both UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba and Saudi Ambassador to the United States Reema bint Bandar Al Saud to discuss ongoing Houthi attacks against civilian targets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that have resulted in civilian casualties in both countries.

  • Women’s presence in Saudi cybersecurity sector reaches 45%

    Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity sector has witnessed a high presence of women, with the rate of participation reaching 45 percent, according to statistics published by the Saudi Federation for CyberSecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP). The global representation of women in the cybersecurity field is about 25%.

  • Saudi Fund’s Digital Security Firm Seeks $820 Million From IPO

    Elm Co., a digital security firm owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is seeking to raise as much $820 million from an IPO as the kingdom pushes ahead with plans to raise money through selling stakes in a raft of companies. The initial public offering’s price range has been set at 113 riyals ($30.13) to 128 riyals, according to a statement. Institutional book-building for 24 million shares will start Sunday and ends Friday.

  • GOP lawmakers back think tank report pushing Israel, Saudi Arabia ties as vital US security interest

    In addition to bolstering Israeli-Saudi ties, the report urges for amplified Israeli involvement in U.S. CENTCOM, which would increase joint exercises and cooperation in the region. The task force also pushed for strengthened maritime cooperation and aerial defense systems between the Accord nations to shore up defenses in the Middle East, particularly as Iran expands its proxy forces.

  • National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Defines the Biden Doctrine

    And so when we came into office, President Biden called President Putin and said, “I’m going to look at the SolarWinds question. I’m going to look at the issue of the use of chemical weapons against Navalny, and I’m going to look at election interference in the 2020 election. And if I determine that Russia was responsible for these things in ways that cross our lines, we will respond with economic sanctions.” And that’s precisely what we did, in a vigorous way. And not just sanctioning individuals or entities, but sanctioning sovereign debt, for example.

  • Opec+ has ensured energy security, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister says

    The Opec+ group, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, achieved a historic reduction of 9.7 million barrels per day between May 2020 and July last year, but has tapered the supply cuts as demand improved. The group agreed to add another 400,000 bpd to the market from February.