Saudi Cabinet Emphasizes Commitment to Stability and the Pivotal Role of 'Mecca Agreement' States in Securing Regional Security

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz presided over the Council of Ministers meeting held in Riyadh yesterday. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the ministers on the contents of two messages received by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and himself from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as on the substance of his reception of French President Emmanuel Macron and the outcomes of his official talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which underscored the robust historical ties between the two countries and their commitment to enhancing cooperation across various fields.

The Council subsequently discussed the outcomes of talks held between the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense member states and senior Iranian officials, reiterating the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to establishing security and stability at both regional and international levels, and emphasizing the pivotal role of Mecca Agreement countries in ensuring regional security and stability. The Council also expressed support for mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, and backed all initiatives aimed at achieving peace.

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, noted that the Council commended the high capabilities of air defense systems in thwarting repeated attempts by the Houthi terrorist militia to target Mecca, Medina, and several other Saudi cities and facilities. He condemned these criminal attacks as a serious aggression against the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, and as a blatant violation of the sentiments of Muslims worldwide. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s legitimate right to resolutely defend the security of the Two Holy Mosques, their visitors, citizens, and residents.

The Council highlighted that the localization rate of military spending in the Kingdom reached 27.3% by the end of 2025, surpassing the annual target of 24%, with local content increasing to 40.9%. This reflects the sufficiency of national capabilities and supports integrated efforts between the public and private sectors, as well as steady progress toward localizing over 50% of total military spending by 2030.

The Council reviewed several performance indicators of the government work system and the progress achieved in areas of administration, governance, and institutional excellence.

The Council reviewed items on its agenda, including those jointly studied by the Shura Council, and considered the conclusions reached by the Political and Security Affairs Council, the Economic and Development Affairs Council, the General Committee of the Council, and the Council of Experts regarding these matters. The Council reached several decisions.