Saudi Arabia serves as key pillar of regional security, major US partner: Pentagon
January 29, 2021, 12:00 pm

Saudi Arabia serves as key pillar of regional security, major US partner: Pentagon

The Pentagon logo is seen behind the podium in a briefing room. (File Photo: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia is a major partner of the United States and an important pillar of regional security, the Pentagon said on Friday, the pan-Arab daily newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported.

The US will maintain talks with its regional partners in the Middle East to determine the capabilities required to deter Iran and support stability in the region, Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Anton Semelroth, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said.

Washington has been preparing to expand its bases in the Kingdom in the coming weeks.

“As we work to de-escalate tensions in the region through principled diplomacy…we will also help our partner Saudi Arabia defend against attacks on its territory and hold those who attempt to undermine stability to account,” The Wall Street Journal cited US Department of State spokesman Ned Price as saying on Monday.

The Pentagon this week concluded a preliminary arrangement with Riyadh for the use of various air bases and sea ports in the western regions of the country should a possible conflict with Iran arise, the head Central Command on the Middle East General Kenneth Mckenzie told reporters.

This comes as the Royal Saudi Navy, US Navy, and the British minesweepers concluded joint naval exercises in the Arabian Gulf on Thursday, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense.

US Navy patrol boats arrive at Saudi Royal Navy, Eastern Fleet Headquarters, during mixed maritime exercise in Jubail. (File photo: Reuters)

Participating vessels executed a number of marine formations, as well as boarding and searching ships, floating mines and reconnaissance operations, port training and defense, drone operations and shooting air and surface enemy targets with live ammunition.

source: Tamara Abueish

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”