As part of ongoing efforts to enhance defense capabilities and deepen strategic partnerships, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and their US counterparts conducted the joint naval exercise “Blue Defender 26.” This important military exercise took place at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah, and aimed to improve military coordination and the exchange of combat and operational expertise between the two sides.

The “Blue Defender 26” exercise witnessed the execution of a series of complex field and tactical scenarios designed to simulate realistic scenarios of potential maritime threats. Participating forces from both sides demonstrated a high level of professionalism and combat readiness, reflecting the high competence of naval crews and their superior ability to work together to enhance operational capabilities and strengthen maritime security in the region.

Strategic importance for enhancing Red Sea security

This exercise comes at a crucial time, underscoring the strategic importance of the Red Sea region as one of the world's most vital shipping lanes. The objectives of "Blue Defender 26" extend beyond military training to include securing international shipping lanes and ensuring the flow of global trade, reflecting the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States to maintaining regional stability and protecting shared interests.

Extended military partnership

This exercise is an extension of a long history of close military cooperation between Riyadh and Washington, with the armed forces of both countries regularly conducting joint exercises. These drills contribute to unifying military concepts, honing the leadership and field skills of officers and personnel, and testing and developing joint command and control systems to address various security challenges.

Raising combat readiness

At the conclusion of the exercise, organizers affirmed that the results achieved reflect the significant progress made by the naval forces and their ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of modern naval warfare. The success of "Blue Defender 26" represents a further step towards strengthening military deterrence and ensuring maximum readiness to confront any contingency that threatens the security and safety of territorial and international waters.

The Public Transport Authority announced the results of its intensive inspection campaigns during January, which resulted in the detection of 689 violations related to operating unlicensed passenger transport services, known locally as "Kaddada," across various regions of Saudi Arabia. These efforts are part of the Authority's commitment to regulating the land transport sector and raising compliance levels with regulations.

Details of the violations detected and the field campaigns

Official statistics released by the authority revealed that monitoring teams, in cooperation with relevant security agencies, identified and apprehended 614 violators during the same month for engaging in what is known as "sowing" – the preparatory activities used to attract and transport passengers in private vehicles without the necessary licenses. In addition, 75 other violators were apprehended for transporting passengers in unauthorized ways. The relevant authorities dealt firmly with these violations, impounding 83 vehicles and taking legal action against their owners.

Campaign context and its strategic importance

These monitoring campaigns are of paramount importance, going beyond simply monitoring violations. They are an essential part of the Kingdom's efforts to achieve the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030. These moves aim to eliminate the phenomenon of unregulated transport, which negatively affects fair competition in the sector and harms the interests of legitimate operators, licensed taxi drivers, and approved transport applications.

Through these measures, the Authority also focuses on enhancing safety and security standards for passengers, as unlicensed transport vehicles often lack proper insurance coverage and are not subject to the strict periodic inspections imposed by the Authority on public transport, which poses a risk to the safety of users.

Penalties and fines according to the new system

The Public Transport Authority confirmed that the new regulations governing land transport include strict penalties to deter violators, with fines for those who practice “calling” (preparatory work) reaching 11,000 riyals, with the vehicle being impounded for 25 days upon repetition of the violation.

Regarding the practice of unregulated transportation, the penalty can reach a fine of 20,000 riyals, along with vehicle impoundment for up to 60 days. In case of repeated violations, the system allows for the vehicle to be sold at public auction, in addition to deportation for non-Saudi violators, reflecting the seriousness of the relevant authorities in regulating this vital sector.

Call for compliance and reporting

In closing, the authority called on all citizens and residents to cooperate by refraining from dealing with unlicensed carriers and to review the updated regulations and bylaws on its official website. It also urged everyone to report any observations or violations related to transportation activities via the unified number 19929 or through official communication channels such as the customer care account on the “X” platform.