Saudi deputy foreign minister represents Kingdom at Manila ASEAN treaty conference

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji represented Saudi Arabia on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) conference, titled "Conflict Prevention and Preventive Diplomacy," held today in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

In his address, Al-Khuraiji emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue, building mutual trust, and expanding regional cooperation. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s recognition of ASEAN’s vital role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity, and welcomed the progress made at recent ASEAN summits in advancing economic integration and addressing regional and global challenges.

Al-Khuraiji reaffirmed the Kingdom’s strong commitment to strengthening its partnership with ASEAN, building on the achievements of recent ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council summits, and stressed the need to open new avenues for growth, enhance resilience, and advance shared interests.

Saudi Arabia’s stance on regional challenges

The deputy foreign minister reiterated the Kingdom’s call for dialogue, diplomacy, and de-escalation as the only path to lasting peace and regional stability. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of Iran’s unlawful attacks on oil and gas tankers, critical infrastructure, and civilian areas in the Gulf, underscoring the right of states to defend themselves in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

He also condemned false claims by the Houthi militia accusing Saudi Arabia of imposing a blockade on Yemen, reiterated the Kingdom’s rejection of repeated militia attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure, and expressed steadfast support for the Yemeni people and their legitimate government.

Saudi Vision and strengthening international cooperation

Al-Khuraiji explained that Saudi Vision 2030 prioritizes cooperation over confrontation and positions economic partnership as a driver of lasting peace and shared prosperity. He noted that as a party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, Saudi Arabia is committed to upholding the treaty’s principles by advancing multilateral cooperation, supporting preventive diplomacy, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and promoting dialogue as the preferred means of resolving disputes.

The conference was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines Faisal Al-Ghamdi.