Riyadh, December 4, 2024 – Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, hosted a significant meeting at his office in Riyadh on Monday, welcoming Teo Chee Hean, the Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore. The discussions between the two leaders centered around the deepening of Saudi-Singaporean bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations across various sectors.
The meeting was a high-level exchange that explored the broad spectrum of issues that are pivotal to both countries, including regional and global developments. Prince Khalid and Minister Teo also deliberated on the ongoing efforts by both Saudi Arabia and Singapore to address current challenges in the international landscape, with a focus on strengthening defense and security ties. This meeting underscored the importance of fostering strategic partnerships to maintain regional stability and contribute to global peace.
Accompanying Minister Teo were key Singaporean diplomats, including S. Premjith, the Ambassador of Singapore to Saudi Arabia, Francis Goh, the Deputy Director-General of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, and Ivan Chia, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Riyadh. These officials played an essential role in facilitating discussions on deepening bilateral defense and security cooperation, alongside their broader diplomatic engagements.
On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by several senior officials, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing defense and security relations with Singapore. These included Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, the Deputy Minister of Defense, General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, the Chief of General Staff, Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, the Director-General of the Minister of Defense's Office, and Ibrahim Al Suwayed, the Undersecretary for Procurement and Armament at the Ministry of Defense.
The discussions focused on further strengthening cooperation in areas such as defense technology, military training, and intelligence sharing. Both sides emphasized the importance of robust defense partnerships to counter evolving security threats and to ensure regional stability in the face of growing global challenges.
The meeting is seen as a critical step in reinforcing the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Singapore, both of which share common interests in promoting security, peace, and prosperity in the region and beyond. As the two nations continue to expand their collaboration, the session exemplified the growing commitment to enhancing defense ties and facilitating mutual growth in various sectors.
