Saudi Cabinet Rejects Threats to Maritime Navigation and Affirms Firm Response to Any Attack
The Saudi Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, renewed the Kingdom's rejection of violations that threaten maritime navigation and energy supplies, affirmed it will respond firmly to any attack, approved the national space policy, and the Coalition reported intercepting a drone in the Eastern Region.
The Saudi Council of Ministers renewed, in its session held today, Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in Riyadh and chaired by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom’s rejection of all violations that threaten the security and safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies, affirming that it will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty and will respond firmly to any threat or attack targeting its security and the safety of citizens and residents on its soil.
The council stressed the importance of the international community taking swift measures to ensure maritime security, the movement of international trade and the application of international law in this regard, at a time when drone attacks on Saudi territory continue and tensions persist in the region’s sea lanes.
Maritime navigation and energy supplies
The Council confirmed that the Kingdom has continued, despite the challenges facing the region, to supply energy to global markets reliably, relying on long-term investments in infrastructure, storage facilities and supply chains, and on a system capable of handling changes, which has contributed to supporting global energy security and the resilience of supply networks.
The council followed developments on the international scene and the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Saudi Arabia in coordination with brotherly and friendly countries to consolidate regional security that preserves stability in the region and safeguards development opportunities for its peoples. It also reviewed the outcomes of the Kingdom’s participation in meetings of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the Group of Twenty, particularly regarding maritime navigation security, energy, food security, global trade and supply chains.
Crown Prince’s messages and calls
At the start of the session the Crown Prince briefed ministers on the content of two messages received by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince from the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, and on the content of a message he sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping, in addition to his telephone contacts with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Romanian President Nikoshur Dan, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and the results of his reception of Jordan’s Crown Prince Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II.
National space policy and other decisions
The Council approved the National Space Policy, agreed on financial oversight rules for endowment accounts overseen or managed by a government entity, and decided to transfer a number of the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences’ functions to the National Events Center and the Saudi Authority for Investment Marketing.
The council also approved a memorandum of understanding with India in the field of water resources, a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi and Pakistani interior ministries on scientific, training and research cooperation, and another on radio and television cooperation with Morocco. It authorized the Minister of Human Resources to consult with the Syrian side regarding a memorandum of understanding to develop the labor market and skills development, and to consult with South Africa and Brazil on two memorandums to exchange information in the field of nuclear and radiological regulation.
Drone intercepted in the Eastern Region
Hours after the session, the official spokesperson for Coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, announced this evening the interception and destruction of a drone in the Eastern Region, without providing additional details about its origin or about any resulting damage.
The Coalition had also announced earlier this morning the interception and destruction of a drone in the Makkah region, while the Houthis denied carrying out any attack toward the Saudi interior.
