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Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Treaty with ASEAN Countries

Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Treaty with ASEAN Countries
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Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Treaty with ASEAN Countries

Saudi Arabia Signs Cooperation Treaty with ASEAN Countries

Saudi Arabia has signed a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday.

The treaty was signed by the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Indonesia’s Jakarta.

This came upon the directives of Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Saudi Arabia's signing of the treaty underscores its commitment to bolstering close relations with East Asian countries in various fields. This move further solidifies its leading international role in achieving global security and peace, based on its approach of promoting dialogue, intensifying joint coordination, and enhancing multilateral cooperation with sisterly and friendly nations. It aims to foster greater stability, prosperity, and progress for all countries and peoples involved.

For his part, the Saudi FM hailed the exceptional relations that bind his country with ASEAN nations, expressing the Kingdom's keenness to broaden the scope of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Southeast Asian bloc across various domains, particularly regarding shared areas of interest.

“Signing the treaty complements the Kingdom’s role in achieving international peace and security and strengthening dialogue and mutual coordination,” Prince Faisal noted.

He also said that the treaty, in alignment with the principles of the UN charter, will play a pivotal role in accomplishing sustainable development objectives and generating fresh economic prospects for all sides.

Also, the Saudi FM held a series of meetings with his counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. He met with Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Malaysia's Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Brunei Darussalam's Second Foreign Minister Datu Erywan Pehin Yusof.

The talks reviewed the progress of the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and these countries and exploring ways to support and enhance them in all areas. They also discussed international issues of mutual interest.

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Gulf

GCC-EU Summit Poised to Back Two-State Solution

Christophe Farnaud, the European Union’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Christophe Farnaud, the European Union’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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GCC-EU Summit Poised to Back Two-State Solution

Christophe Farnaud, the European Union’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Christophe Farnaud, the European Union’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The escalating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon are pushing the two-state solution to the forefront of the agenda for the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council-European Union (GCC-EU) Summit in Brussels next Wednesday.
The summit is expected to back the Global Alliance for Implementing the Two-State Solution, recently launched by Saudi Arabia.
Christophe Farnaud, the EU’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, said the EU and Gulf countries are united in their call for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he also expected a strong, unified position on establishing a Palestinian state during this first-of-its-kind summit.
Farnaud highlighted the EU’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and humanitarian aid, while reaffirming the EU’s alignment with Arab and Gulf nations on the two-state solution.
Recognition of Palestine ‘Just a Matter of Time’
On the topic of recognizing a Palestinian state, Farnaud revealed that many EU member states have reached an initial agreement, and it's “only a matter of time” before more countries officially recognize Palestine.
Some have already done so, while others are deciding the right timing.
He praised the Saudi-led Global Alliance for Implementing the Two-State Solution, launched in September, which includes Arab, Islamic, Norwegian, and EU support.
The initiative was well received internationally, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell commending Saudi Arabia’s efforts during a recent UN meeting on Gaza.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called the two-state solution “the only reliable path to peace in the Middle East” and stressed the need to establish a Palestinian state now.
Economic Partnership, Cooperation
On the economic front, Farnaud said the summit will build on previous meetings to strengthen long-term partnerships between the EU and the Gulf. The leaders will discuss economic, investment, and trade cooperation, with trade in goods alone between the two regions reaching €170 billion.
Key Issues on the Summit Agenda
The summit will also address security, regional stability, and ongoing crises in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and the Red Sea. Both sides are committed to finding diplomatic solutions to these issues.
Free Trade, Visa Cooperation
Farnaud confirmed the EU’s commitment to reaching a free trade agreement with Gulf countries, while noting that some technical issues remain. He also expressed interest in advancing talks on a potential visa waiver between the Schengen area and Gulf nations.
The summit will be the first of its kind between the GCC and the EU. Farnaud recently held positive discussions with Saudi officials to finalize preparations and set priorities for the meeting.