RIYADH — Friday, October 30, 2026. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held a round of telephone calls on Friday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the defence ministers of Canada, Germany and Spain, discussing defence cooperation and regional developments as Riyadh seeks wider international backing after a fresh wave of Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.
The Saudi minister announced the calls in a series of posts on X, describing separate conversations with each counterpart. State media reported that the discussions focused on joint coordination over current regional developments and on promoting regional and international security and stability.
Call with NATO chief
In his call with Mr Rutte, Prince Khalid said the two sides reviewed aspects of defence cooperation and discussed their joint coordination on regional developments in a manner that promotes regional and international security and stability. They also explored several other topics of mutual interest, he said.
The conversation came a day after Yemen’s Houthis claimed six missile and drone attacks on targets across Saudi Arabia, including airports in Riyadh and Dammam and oil facilities at Ras Tanura and Rabigh. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh, while Saudi Civil Defence said interception debris wounded one citizen in the capital.
Condemnation from Canada, Germany and Spain
In a separate call with Canada’s Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, Prince Khalid extended condolences over the deaths of Canadian military personnel in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta and wished those injured a speedy recovery. The two ministers reviewed prospects for Saudi-Canadian defence cooperation, discussed regional developments and condemned the Houthi attacks against the Kingdom, he said.
His conversation with Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius covered bilateral defence relations and coordination on regional developments, with both sides condemning the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi minister’s account of the call.
Prince Khalid also spoke with Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles, discussing defence cooperation, ways to strengthen Saudi-Spanish relations, and regional developments following the Houthi attacks, along with efforts to promote security and stability.
Why the calls matter now
The diplomatic push underlines how Riyadh is working to keep Western partners closely aligned as the conflict with the Houthis escalates. Saudi officials have repeatedly framed the attacks on airports, oil sites and civilian areas as a threat not only to the Kingdom but to regional stability and global energy supplies.
Western governments have in recent weeks warned their citizens about travel to Saudi Arabia and adjusted flight operations, while Gulf airlines have repeatedly suspended and resumed routes depending on security assessments. The calls with NATO and three Western defence ministers signal that Riyadh wants those partners engaged directly on the security picture rather than watching from the sidelines.
What to watch next
Attention now turns to whether the diplomatic outreach produces any concrete new defence coordination, and to how the Houthis respond after their latest claimed barrage. Saudi officials have stressed that the Kingdom retains the right to defend its territory, while mediators continue to push for a de-escalation that would protect shipping, energy infrastructure and civilian life across the region.
For now, the message from Riyadh is one of coordination: the Kingdom is talking to its partners, condemning the attacks in unison, and preparing for whatever comes next in a conflict that shows no sign of easing.
