US President Joe Biden said he signed several agreements over a broad range of matters during talks with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday. Speaking to reporters after the talks in Jeddah, Biden said he had discussed steps Riyadh could take to ensure global energy security and adequate oil supplies. The president went on to mention several deals, signed by both countries, which cover regional political, technological and travel-related matters. These include an agreement to connect the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council's electric grid to Iraq through member states Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. On Yemen, he said Washington and Riyadh agreed to work together to strengthen and extend the ceasefire there, which has been holding since April. Another deal sees international peacekeepers, including US troops, leaving Tiran Island that lies between Saudi Arabia and Egypt by the end of the year. On technology, Biden said both countries intend to expand their cooperation on "space exploration, including human spaceflight, earth observation, commercial and regulatory development, and responsible behavior in outer space." Saudi technology firms, based on an MoU, will now be able to adopt 5G technology from the US, through open, virtualized and cloud-based radio access networks locally, in addition to the development of 6G cell technology, said the president. — Agencies
