Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed, Saudi Govt Reviews Recent Foreign Policy Efforts

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs a cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs a cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed, Saudi Govt Reviews Recent Foreign Policy Efforts

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs a cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs a cabinet session in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired on Tuesday a Saudi cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

The ministers tackled the Kingdom’s foreign policy efforts at various regional and international events in recent days.

The efforts are aimed at addressing common challenges, most notably humanitarian and security efforts and addressing climate challenges.

The cabinet reviewed Crown Prince Mohammed’s telephone call with Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday. The talks focused on means to develop joint cooperation between Riyadh and Algiers.

The cabinet also addressed the launch of the second edition of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit and the Saudi Green Initiative Forum that will take place in Egypt in November when the country hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The cabinet stressed that the two initiatives reflect the Kingdom’s commitment in supporting collective efforts in combating climate and environment challenges in the region and world.

In remarks to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi highlighted the recent launch of the National Initiative for Global Supply Chains.

The initiative aims at strengthening the Kingdom's position as a major center and a vital link in global supply chains. It also aims at attracting quality industrial and service investments worth SAR 40 billion during the first two years of its launch. The initiative underscores the Kingdom's constant efforts to contribute to the stability and growth of the global economy.

The cabinet also highlighted the two agreements signed by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) aimed at preventing and combating measles and polio outbreaks in a number of countries.

The cabinet discussed the Kingdom's participation in the high-level international conference on "International and Regional Border Security and Management Cooperation to Counter Terrorism and Prevent the Movement of Terrorists" in Tajikistan. The Kingdom’s efforts in this regard were highlighted at the regional and international levels.



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.