As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tireless diplomatic efforts to bolster regional security and stability, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, conducted a series of intensive telephone calls with his counterparts in four key countries: the State of Qatar, the Republic of India, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Republic. These moves come at a critical juncture, as the region witnesses a dangerous escalation, necessitating high-level international coordination to address the current challenges.
Joint Gulf coordination and a firm stance
His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs began his diplomatic efforts with a telephone call to His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly State of Qatar. The discussions focused on the dangerous escalation in the region, with both sides expressing their strong condemnation of the cowardly Iranian attacks targeting the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and several other countries in the region. Both parties affirmed their countries' legitimate and absolute right to take all necessary measures to protect their national security and territorial integrity, emphasizing that the security of the Gulf states is indivisible.
This Saudi-Qatari coordination reflects the depth of fraternal relations and common destiny that binds the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, especially in light of the threats that affect the nerve center of the global economy and energy security, which highlights the importance of the Gulf bloc as a safety valve in the face of external ambitions.
International partnerships to promote stability
On the international front, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed current regional developments with the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The call addressed ways to enhance joint action and bilateral coordination to contribute to achieving security and stability, given India's strategic importance in Asia and its strong historical ties with the Kingdom.
Widespread European condemnation of the aggression
In a related development, the Foreign Minister received calls from European officials, including the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani. These calls demonstrated a unified European stance in support of the Kingdom, with European officials expressing their countries' full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and their strong condemnation of the brutal Iranian attacks.
These international condemnations are of paramount importance, as they underscore the isolation of the aggressive behavior that threatens international navigation and regional stability, and highlight the success of Saudi diplomacy in mobilizing international public opinion to reject any infringement on the region’s security, while continuously emphasizing the need to exert all efforts to reduce escalation and protect civilians and national assets.
