RIYADH — UK's Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps welcomed Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman at Lancaster House Palace in London on Thursday. It marks an important step in the ongoing official visit of the Saudi minister to Britain. Upon Prince Khalid bin Salman's arrival, a formal reception ceremony was held, featuring a review of the guard of honor. Following the ceremony, the two sides embarked on an extensive bilateral meeting, joined by representatives from both ministries. The meeting focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia. Key topics included enhancing military and defense cooperation and ways to further mutual interests. The discussions also covered joint efforts to promote regional and global security and stability, alongside other matters of shared concern. Dignitaries in attendance included Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador to the UK; Lieutenant General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff; Eng. Talal Al-Otaibi, Assistant Minister of Defense; Dr. Khalid Al-Biyari, Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs; Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, Director General of the Office of the Minister of Defense; and Major General Staff Pilot Riyad Abu Abah, the Military Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in London and Dublin. Representing the British side were Lieutenant General Tony Radakin, Chief of Defense Staff; Lieutenant General Richard Knighton, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Lieutenant General Patrick Sanders, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces; Avril Jolliffe, Director General of Industry, Trade and Economic Security; Kashif Chowdhury, Director of Policy for the Middle East; Natasha Sharp, Director of Air Force Strategy; and Brigadier General Ben Wilde, the British Military Attaché in Saudi Arabia.
