Saudi Arabia calls for protection of international waterways, rejects restrictions on navigation
NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia on Saturday stressed the need to safeguard freedom of navigation across international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, calling for conditions to return to what they were before Feb. 28 without the imposition of fees or restrictions.Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom rejects attempts by any party to use vital waterways as a tool for pressure, threats or harm to the interests of other countries.Prince Faisal said the General Assembly was meeting at a time when crises and conflicts continued across many parts of the world, underscoring the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, respect international law and strengthen the effectiveness of international institutions in preserving international peace and security and advancing development.He said current crises stem not so much from a lack of resources or opportunities as from a failure to adhere to principles agreed upon by the international community.Prince Faisal pointed to the direct Iranian attacks against Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region targeting their security, capabilities and civilian and economic infrastructure.The Kingdom reaffirmed its full right to protect its security, sovereignty, citizens, residents and national assets, while calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in confronting threats to international peace and security.Prince Faisal stressed that the security of the Arabian Gulf is inseparable from the security of the region and the wider world because of its direct links to global energy security, international trade, global supply chains and freedom of navigation.Protecting these interests, he said, is a shared responsibility requiring serious international cooperation to prevent risks that could affect the global economy.Efforts to restore security and stability in the region and build sustainable relations among its countries cannot be based on domination, the imposition of influence or exploitation of crises, Prince Faisal said.Instead, he said, they must be founded on mutual respect, shared interests, good-neighborly relations, respect for state sovereignty and full adherence to international and humanitarian law.Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support for efforts and initiatives aimed at de-escalation, particularly those undertaken by Qatar, Pakistan and other countries seeking to restore regional stability and create conditions conducive to dialogue and diplomacy.The Kingdom also stressed that any arrangements concerning regional security must be comprehensive, fair and sustainable and clearly address sources of threats and instability.It reiterated the need for a Middle East completely free of weapons of mass destruction and said peaceful nuclear programs must be subject to international monitoring, verification and safeguards to strengthen confidence and preserve regional and international security.Turning to the Palestinian issue, Prince Faisal said the continued suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the targeting of civilians by the Israeli occupation, restrictions on humanitarian assistance, attempts at forced displacement and continued illegal settlement expansion constitute serious violations of international and international humanitarian law.He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of attempts to alter realities on Palestinian land, stressing that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.Prince Faisal stressed the importance of supporting efforts toward a comprehensive political solution that ensures Yemen’s stability, supports its economy and alleviates the humanitarian suffering of its people.He said Saudi Arabia has provided more than $29 billion in humanitarian and development assistance to Yemen and ranked first among humanitarian aid donors to the country in 2025.The foreign minister welcomed a UN Security Council statement condemning missile and drone attacks by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels.The Kingdom also called on the international community to reject and condemn Houthi attacks and attempts to threaten navigation in the Red Sea, warning that they pose a danger to regional and international security and stability.On Sudan, Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of preserving the country’s stability, unity, territorial integrity, national resources and institutions.The Kingdom said the crisis requires a Sudanese-led political solution that respects the country’s sovereignty and unity, supports state institutions, addresses humanitarian suffering and fulfills the aspirations of the Sudanese people for security and stability.Saudi Arabia also reiterated its support for Syria’s security, stability and territorial unity, welcoming the United States’ decision to remove Syria’s designation as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” which it said would support the country’s reconstruction and development efforts.The Kingdom rejected any violations that undermine Syria’s stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity.On Lebanon, Riyadh reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions in implementing the Taif Agreement, ensuring that weapons are held exclusively by the state and preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability.Saudi Arabia also reiterated its support for efforts to achieve security, stability and prosperity for Iraq and its people, welcoming steps by the Iraqi government to consolidate security, safeguard the independence of national decision-making and ensure that weapons remain under state control.