Saudi Arabia drafts a security agreement with Iraq.

Saudi Arabia approved a draft agreement on security cooperation with Iraq on Tuesday evening, the Saudi press agency said, in a bid to strengthen ties with the neighboring country.

King Salman chaired a cabinet meeting in the city of Neom that tasked the Minister of Interior, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, or his deputy to meet with Iraqi officials to implement the deal.

“The council of ministers has authorized the Saudi minister of interior to discuss with the Iraqi side a draft security cooperation agreement between the Kingdom’s government and Iraq to sign the final version of the deal,” the Saudi press agency said.

Iraqi President, Barham Salih, said: “Security of the Gulf, the security of Saudi Arabia is vital for Iraq and likewise Iraq’s security is vital to the Gulf.”

In April the two countries signed 13 agreements in areas such as security, trade, energy, and political cooperation.

The border crossing of Arar is expected to officially reopen on October 15, it closed in 1990 after the invasion of Kuwait.

It comes as part of their agreement to boost trade relations.

The re-opening of the Arar border is seen as the “foundation for a fruitful cooperation” between the two, Saudi trade minister, Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi said in October 2017.

In the same meeting of the Council of Ministers, the cabinet agreed to begin talks with Kuwait about combatting trafficking and drug smuggling. They also approved a memorandum of understanding on cyber-crime with China.