https://arab.news/wakkv
- Prince Faisal bin Farhan: Peace between Israel, Palestinians 鈥榳ill resolve many of the challenges鈥� Mideast faces
- Riyadh will continue to work with Washington 鈥榯oward a much better future for the region鈥�
LONDON: 抖阴短视频 is 鈥渋ncredibly concerned鈥� about regional security following Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the situation in Gaza, the Kingdom鈥檚 foreign minister said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a panel titled 鈥淪ecuring an Insecure World鈥� that de-escalation in the Red Sea is essential, and that Riyadh will continue to 鈥渆ngage with all stakeholders鈥� after US and UK airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen last week.
While 鈥渃learly connected with the war in Gaza,鈥� it is important that the conflict in the Palestinian enclave is addressed separately, he said.
鈥淲e need to focus on the war in Gaza not because of the Red Sea,鈥� he told the panel. 鈥淲e need to focus on the war in Gaza because of its impact on the Palestinians, first, but on regional security in general and on the risks it poses for further escalation.鈥�
Prince Faisal said since Israel began military operations in Gaza, nearly 30,000 Palestinians have died and humanitarian aid is still being heavily restricted, but he has 鈥渘ot seen any real sign鈥� that Tel Aviv is achieving its strategic objectives.
He praised parts of the international community for 鈥渕oving more in the direction鈥� of calling for a cease-fire, adding that peace between the two sides 鈥渨ill resolve many of the challenges that we have in the region.鈥�
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the war 鈥渁 total disaster鈥� and reiterated that the 鈥渙nly way out鈥� of the ongoing situation is a two-state solution.
However, she said 鈥渁 cease-fire, unfortunately, doesn鈥檛 fall from the sky鈥� and can only be achieved if both sides 鈥渁re ready.鈥�
Baerbock said a 鈥渧icious circle鈥� of blame is preventing a cease-fire from happening, but insisted that first and foremost, Hamas needs to lay down its weapons and release all remaining hostages in Gaza.
鈥淭he answer is there on the table,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we can鈥檛 ignore that the majority of hostages are still (with) Hamas.鈥�
US Sen. Christopher Coons said he is 鈥渙ptimistic鈥� that peace can be achieved based on talks between American senators and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh in 2023, as well as meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi in Cairo.
However, Coons added that conditions in Gaza are worsening daily, and that Netanyahu has built a political career out of opposing a two-state solution.
Prince Faisal said he is heartened by the 鈥渃oncrete agreement鈥� among major nations that the current situation is untenable, adding: 鈥淲e need to translate that into action.鈥�
He said Riyadh will continue to work with Washington 鈥渢oward a much better future for the region,鈥� and raised the possibility of future Saudi recognition of Israel if peace with the Palestinians could be reached.
Coons hinted that a series of elections in Western countries in 2024 could potentially affect the shape of the current set of Middle East crises.
He said Iran鈥檚 role in conflicts ranging from Yemen to Ukraine needs to be recognized, but talked down any possibility that a return to the White House for former President Donald Trump would lead to a US withdrawal from NATO. 鈥淭he US rarely ratifies defense treaties, but when we do, we keep them,鈥� Coons said.
Citing growing concerns about inter-regional conflicts, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: 鈥淲hat happens in Asia matters for Europe.鈥�
He also noted that Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine, selling Moscow military drones and helping it construct drone and munitions facilities in Tatarstan.
But he said there is cause for optimism for Ukrainians, noting Russia鈥檚 failure to make major progress following the early days of the invasion, and highlighting Kyiv鈥檚 success in opening up channels for the export of grain through the Black Sea.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said nobody wants to live in a world 鈥渨here only the strongest survive,鈥� adding that her country had felt compelled to join NATO because of Russia鈥檚 aggression, highlighting Moscow鈥檚 use of 鈥渉ybrid strategies鈥� to push 鈥渢hird-party citizens鈥� from other countries into Europe via Finland鈥檚 border.
Pointing to Finland鈥檚 right to security, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar said: 鈥淲hat the minister says could apply just as much to Palestine 鈥� they have the right.鈥�
He said the world needs to see concrete changes in the makeup of global security institutions, bemoaning a decline in international diplomacy, and adding that a country such as Nigeria should have a place on the UN Security Council. The UNSC 鈥渘eeds to democratize,鈥� Tuggar said. 鈥淐learly it isn鈥檛 fit for purpose.鈥�
He added: 鈥淣igeria is a large country. It鈥檚 the most populous country on the continent of Africa. It has a population of 220 million people 鈥� it鈥檚 going to be 400 million by the year 2050. It belongs in the UN Security Council.鈥�