Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed that his country’s ties with the United States take into account the national interests of the two countries.
“We disagree with the US on some issues,” he said, but added that Riyadh was working jointly with Washington on security and stability in the region.
Speaking during a panel at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, the minister also touched on Riyadh’s relations with Moscow, especially regarding the Ukrainian crisis, saying: “Our relationship is good with Russia and this is beneficial for everyone to keep the doors of dialogue open.”
Saudi Arabia “is continuing dialogue with Kyiv and Moscow” to find a solution, “but issues between them are complex,” Prince Faisal was quoted by Al-Arabiya TV as saying, noting that there was willingness on both sides to negotiate.
In the same context, he addressed the Iranian file, saying: “We have warned previously of Iran’s drones, and now they are hitting Ukraine.”
On the Iranian nuclear deal, he remarked: “We want the Gulf states to have a say in the agreement.”
“We want to return to the nuclear agreement, but with a comprehensive view and with Gulf participation,” he stressed, adding that the acquisition of a nuclear weapon by an “enemy country prompts everyone to search for their options.”
On Syria, Prince Faisal pointed to an Arab consensus that the current situation there should not continue, stressing the need to find a solution to the issue of Syrian refugees abroad and the humanitarian aspect at home.
Turning to the Palestinian file, he said the ongoing escalation in the occupied territories and the increase of Israeli settlements would not help achieve peace.
The FM held a number of meetings with the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Pakistan and Austria on the sidelines of his participation in the conference.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Prince Faisal discussed with deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra bilateral relations and international efforts to find a political solution to the Ukrainian-Russian crisis.
During his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Saudi minister reviewed the most prominent topics discussed at the Munich conference and the importance of strengthening multilateral action in order to achieve international peace and security.
Prince Faisal tackled with the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schellenberg, bilateral relations and means to increase coordination on issues of common concern.
The minister also met separately with German Minister of State and Head of Bavarian State Chancellery, Florian Herrmann, and BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse, on the sidelines of the conference.
