Saudi Arabia, Egypt Emphasize Commitment to Continued Coordination, Consultation for Regional, International Security, Stability

Cairo, January 28, 2024, SPA – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt have emphasized their commitment to continue coordination and consultation, contributing to regional and international security and stability, in line with the aspirations of the leadership of both countries.
This came during a joint press conference held by the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, following a ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee between the two countries in Cairo today.
Prince Faisal indicated that, in the joint committee meeting, he conveyed the Kingdom's desire to enhance relations across diverse fields. He praised the current state of these relations under the guidance of the leaderships of both nations.
The Saudi minister highlighted discussions on various regional and international topics of mutual interest. Both countries affirmed their commitment to clear policies that support peaceful solutions and collaborative efforts aimed at fostering peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region and globally.
He also stated that the situation in Palestine was discussed, emphasizing the shared priorities of both countries towards an immediate ceasefire, the entry of sufficient and necessary humanitarian aid, paving the way for a fair and sustainable political solution based on the two-state resolution.
Regarding economic and trade cooperation, Prince Faisal highlighted the review of the importance of stability and growth in both the Kingdom's and Egypt's economies, emphasizing their integration.
He also underscored the commitment to ongoing coordination and increased collaboration to overcome investment obstacles, boost trade exchange, and fortify economic ties between the two nations.
Furthermore, Prince Faisal highlighted that a comprehensive discussion on regional issues took place, expressing the Kingdom's anticipation for continuous cooperation and coordination with Egypt in all fields and in confronting all challenges in the region.
In response to the question, "Have the recent developments in the region altered the strategic relationship between the Kingdom and Egypt, either politically or economically?" Prince Faisal emphasized, "These transformations underscore the importance of maintaining the stability of the relationship between the two countries." He added, "Such transformations also shed light on the enduring Saudi-Egyptian relationship and the Saudi-Egyptian cooperation and coordination that serve the stability and prosperity of the region. This stresses the importance of this relationship between the two sisterly nations," the Saudi minister said.
In response to another question regarding "What do we need to urge Israel to stop the war in Gaza and move towards peace?" Prince Faisal said, "The most crucial thing we need is a decision from the international community because international law and humanitarian international law have value and are binding for everyone. This applies to Israel and others." He noted, "The full rejection by the Israeli side of the International Court of Justice ruling is what has led to the current situation, with tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and a systematic policy of starvation and blockade as collective punishment for the Palestinian people. All of these are clear violations of international humanitarian law and international law," the Saudi minister said. He added, "The international community is faced with the choice of 'Does it want international law to have value?' and 'Does it want there to be a place for peace?'” He further emphasized, "The necessity of unified international action towards this crisis, adding that as Arab countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt as well as others will continue to exert pressure in this direction." Prince Faisal stressed, "What is required is to compel Israel to adhere to what our countries commit to, meaning compliance with international law and international humanitarian law."
Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign minister stressed, "the commitment of Cairo and Riyadh to the annual convening of the ministerial-level Political Consultation Mechanism, in addition to quarterly consultations at the level of senior officials." Shoukry said, "This underscores the priority and significance that both countries place on continuous and in-depth consultation and coordination regarding various matters." He emphasized, "These consultations are particularly significant given their timing, as they come at a time when crises in the region are escalating, becoming increasingly complex, posing real and serious risks to the countries and peoples of the region." Shoukry added, "These crises also have tangible repercussions on the international scene, which is already fraught with challenges." The Egyptian minister noted that, "In these challenging moments, the importance of coordination among brothers and the integration of roles increases, especially when goals, visions, and interests align between Cairo and Riyadh." He pointed out that today, "several urgent priority topics were discussed, with the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause at the forefront." "We have repeatedly affirmed, whether individually or through the Arab League or the recent Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit, our reiterated call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza. We urge the international community, in all its components, to demonstrate a level of responsibility and determination towards achieving this goal, addressing the dire humanitarian conditions, ending the blockade, starvation, collective punishment, and attempts at forced displacement of the residents of the Gaza Strip,” Shoukry said.
--SPA