Saudi Arabia: King Salman’s Eritrean talks

King Salman Bin Abdelaziz held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Jeddah on 23 July, discussing ways to develop and strengthen bilateral relations in several areas. Eritrea has become a more significant neighbour for the Gulf countries in recent years, due to its strategic position on the Red Sea. A number of vessels from the Royal Saudi Naval Force used Eritrea’s port of Assab late last year, including two Badr class corvettes and one Al-Jawf class mine counter-measures vessel, possibly as part of Saudi-led operations in the Yemen war.