Saudi FM Participates in BRICS Plus Summit on Behalf of King Salman

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
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Saudi FM Participates in BRICS Plus Summit on Behalf of King Salman

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia - SPA

On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah led on Thursday the Kingdom’s delegation participating in the BRICS Plus Summit 2024, held in Kazan, Russia, as an invited country to join the BRICS group.
During the summit, Prince Faisal bin Farhan delivered a speech conveying the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister to President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the BRICS nations. He also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, SPA reported.
The Saudi FM highlighted the growing relations between the Kingdom and BRICS countries, noting that the volume of bilateral trade with BRICS countries exceeded $196 billion in 2023, accounting for 37% of the Kingdom’s total foreign trade.

He emphasized that the summit provides an opportunity to enhance cooperation with BRICS countries to address global challenges and support sustainable development.
On international issues, he expressed the Kingdom’s concern over escalating global tensions, stating: “At a time when we most need to confront global challenges, we witness rising tensions, polarization, and alignments that weaken the flexibility and effectiveness of multilateral forums. The Kingdom supports strengthening international institutions to meet the needs of all countries.”
On Gaza, he said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression poses a serious threat to regional and international security.”

The Saudi FM warned that the current escalation has extended to Lebanon, cautioning that the continuation of this conflict will exacerbate the situation in the region. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, the release of hostages, and a serious commitment to achieving lasting peace.
He further referred to the Kingdom’s efforts to promote peace in the region, including the launch of the “Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” initiative last month in cooperation with international partners. He emphasized, “Granting the Palestinian people the right to self-determination is the only path to sustainable peace,” and praised the BRICS nations for their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their support for a solution based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

He concluded his speech by affirming that the Kingdom will continue to strengthen its partnerships with BRICS countries and expand avenues of cooperation in all fields in pursuit of global development and prosperity.



Trump Visits Al Udeid, Says Qatar Will Invest $10 Billion in Air Base

President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
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Trump Visits Al Udeid, Says Qatar Will Invest $10 Billion in Air Base

President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 
President Trump speaks on stage during a tour of the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar (Getty) 

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Qatar will invest $10 billion in the coming years in the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

Speaking at a meeting with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said his trip through the Gulf region could generate $4 trillion.

“This is a record tour. There’s never been a tour that will raise—it could be a total of $3.5, $4 trillion. Just in this four or five days,” he said.

He described his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Emirates as a historic trip.

Later during a visit to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Thursday, where he spoke to American troops, Trump said, “We almost lost the Middle East because of the policies of the Joe Biden administration. But we’re going to protect the Middle East.”

On the nuclear file, Trump revealed that the United States is “very close to making a deal with Iran,” stating that Tehran has “somewhat agreed to the terms” of a long-term agreement. He added, “We want to deal with the Iran problem in a smart way — but not violently.”

On the situation in Yemen, Trump said the US is prepared to return to military operations against the Houthis if provoked.

“We’re dealing with the Houthis, and I think that’s been very successful. But maybe an attack will be launched tomorrow — in which case, we’ll go back to the offensive,” he said.

Trump then praised US troops stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha.
“You are the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. We have the strongest military in the world,” he said.

Trump also touted plans for advanced US warplanes — including the Boeing F-47 announced in March as an update on the F-22 and named in honor of both the incumbent 47th president and the founding year of the Air Force.

“We’re going to do an F-55 and I think if we get the right price, we have to get the right price, and that’ll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35,” Trump said.

The US President also commented on his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.

“I didn’t know Syria had been under sanctions for this long,” Trump said.