Saudi Crown Prince Reassures Cabinet on King Salman's Health

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Reassures Cabinet on King Salman's Health

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, offered reassurances about the health of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz as he chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The royal court said on Sunday King Salman would undergo medical tests for a lung inflammation.  

"The Crown Prince reassures everyone of the health of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques ... praying to God Almighty to bless him with a speedy recovery and to grant him good and sound health," SPA said on X.  

During the cabinet meeting in Riyadh, Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the ministers on the message sent by King Salman to Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. The message covered bilateral relations between their countries and means to bolster them in various fields.

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary said the cabinet highlighted King Salman’s patronage of the 4th Global Cybersecurity Forum and Crown Prince Mohammed's welcoming speech, which embodied the Kingdom's interest in consolidating joint international action for efforts that serve development and prosperity for all countries of the world.

The cabinet hailed the strategic objectives of the Crown Prince's two global initiatives, which aim to protect children in cyberspace and empower women in cybersecurity. These initiatives fall within the Kingdom's importance of investing in people in all fields, including this vital sector, which is essential for the growth of economies, the development of societies, and the security and stability of countries.

The cabinet discussed the latest regional and international developments, reiterating the statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) extraordinary ministerial meeting which supported the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples against the Israeli assault.

The statement urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining security and stability in the region and implementing resolutions of international legitimacy.

The cabinet welcomed the outcomes of the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, hoping for continued coordination among international partners to eradicate the organization and other terrorist groups. The cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's stance against extremism and terrorism and its commitment to preventing their financing in all forms.

Furthermore, the ministers underlined the Kingdom's contributions to developing effective policies and solutions to global economic challenges. They emphasized the importance of investing in the sustainability of the multilateral trading system to support economic growth and human development and mitigate economic risks.

The cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's position during its participation in the G20 meetings. The Kingdom stressed the need to balance economic growth, energy security, and efforts to combat climate change.  

It underlined its ambition to lead in the use of circular carbon economy technologies and become a global leader in producing and exporting clean energy.

Moreover, the cabinet deemed the Kingdom's winning bid to host the 2026 International Association of Prosecutors Conference as a confirmation of the Kingdom's influential global position and significant role in promoting justice and establishing international judicial communication.



Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
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Conference in Kuwait Warns of Growing Influence of Extremist Groups in Conflict Zones

The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)
The High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. (KUNA)

Kuwait reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to tackle the growing threat of terrorism, highlighting the importance of strengthening global cooperation in this fight.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Representative warned that the number of deaths from terrorist attacks is on the rise, with the latest Global Terrorism Index showing a 22% increase in fatalities in 2023.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, cautioned that conflict zones could become breeding grounds for terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

He spoke at the High-Level International Conference on “Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process” that began in Kuwait on Monday.

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Sabah said: “We expect this phase of the Dushanbe Process to strengthen international efforts aimed at creating a secure and stable future for all.”

“Terrorism knows no borders and does not distinguish between countries or religions,” he noted.

The conference will conclude its work Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” which will reflect the discussions and opinions of the participants and will serve as a guiding document for efforts to combat terrorism.

The Crown Prince urged collective action against terrorism and emphasized the need for unity in facing this challenge. He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism are not linked to any religion, culture, or ethnic group.

He also highlighted the critical role of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Program and the UN Counter-Terrorism Center in boosting border security, providing member states with the necessary expertise to develop comprehensive strategies that integrate counter-terrorism measures.

This approach is vital for effectively addressing emerging threats at borders.

At the conference's opening session, Voronkov stressed that international cooperation in fighting terrorism should guide all parties toward effective coordination and collaboration to secure their countries and prevent terrorist movements across borders.

Voronkov pointed out that the global security situation is changing, with terrorists exploiting border vulnerabilities. Recent reports show that more than 40% of violent incidents and 10% of deaths from political violence occur within 100 kilometers of land borders.

He specifically noted the growing terrorist presence in coastal West African countries like Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, mentioning that violent incidents in border areas have surged by 250% over the past two years.

He also highlighted that the latest Global Terrorism Index indicates a 22% rise in global terrorism-related deaths in 2023, reaching 8,352—the highest number since 2017.

Voronkov cautioned that the travel routes used by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda pose significant risks, especially in conflict-affected regions like the Sahel, where they can recruit and move individuals across poorly secured borders.