ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, July 22, 2025 (WNP): Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), Vice Admiral Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Ghuraybi, called on Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss strengthening bilateral defence ties and maritime cooperation.

Upon his arrival, the visiting Saudi naval chief was received with full military honours and presented a Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Navy. He was also introduced to the Principal Staff Officers of Naval Headquarters, according to a statement from the Directorate of Public Relations (Pakistan Navy).

During the meeting, the two admirals held wide-ranging discussions on matters of mutual interest, the evolving regional maritime security environment, and explored avenues to enhance cooperation in naval training, defence, and joint operations.

Both sides praised the successful execution of Exercise Naseem Al Bahr-XV, a bilateral naval drill held earlier this year in the North Arabian Sea, as a significant step in boosting interoperability and coordination between the two naval forces.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf briefed the RSNF chief on the Pakistan Navy’s role in ensuring regional maritime security, particularly through its Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) initiative. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the broader Indian Ocean region.

Vice Admiral Al Ghuraybi acknowledged Pakistan Navy’s professional excellence, particularly its contribution to the training of RSNF cadets at the Pakistan Naval Academy and aboard PN ships. He lauded the quality and impact of this training on the development of the Saudi naval officers.

Both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to further deepen the historic and fraternal defence partnership, with a particular focus on diversifying the scope of collaboration in the naval domain.

The longstanding partnership between Pakistan Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces continues to evolve as a cornerstone of strategic cooperation, with this high-level engagement expected to further bolster joint efforts toward maritime peace and security.