(Novemeber 20, 2025)
Trump admitted that the devastating war between Sudan‘s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was „not on my charts“ before Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushed him to get involved.
But Trump said he would now work to „stabilise“ the conflict with regional powers, notably including the United Arab Emirates, which denies accusations of backing the RSF with weapons and mercenaries.
The Kingdom also warns that the international community’s silence regarding these practices, and the absence of accountability mechanisms amid ongoing Israeli violations and assaults, weakens the foundations of the international order and undermines the principles of international legitimacy.
The Kingdom reiterates its firm position in supporting the Palestinian people and in continuing its efforts toward establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
„The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the continued violations perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities and extremist settlers against the Palestinian people, most recently the storming of the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque and the provocation of worshippers there, and the reprehensible attack on the Hajja Hamida Mosque in the Palestinian village of Kafr Haris,“ the statement said.
Speaking on Thursday at a conference organised by the Israeli daily Makor Rishon, Smotrich, who heads the far-right Religious Zionism party, said: „Sovereignty [over the occupied West Bank] is the real test. If Saudi Arabia tells us normalisation in exchange for a Palestinian state, then the answer, my friends, is no thank you – keep riding camels on the desert sands, and we will continue to develop economically and socially, and with all the great things we know how to do.“
The Palestinian Authority was represented along with officials from countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Italy, the UK prime minister‘s office said.
Officials from the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development were also attending to support what Falconer called an Arab Reconstruction Plan.
Trump‘s plan also calls for an international stabilisation force, and that was core to much of Thursday‘s discussions, including establishing a United Nations mandate for a peacekeeping force, officials said.
Diplomats said a number of countries had expressed interest in taking part, including Indonesia, which was represented on Thursday, but also Italy and Azerbaijan.
The meeting in France involves France, Germany and the UK, known as the E3, plus Spain and is expected to last around two hours.
Representatives from what is known as the Arab Quint are also there – Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
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Sir Tony is to sit on President Trump’s Board of Peace – part of the intended architecture of the peace plan.
However, despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initial welcoming of the plan, Dar had later made it clear in so many words that the plan for Gaza would not be acceptable if the amendments — jointly proposed by eight Muslim countries — were not included.
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He said that during Monday’s meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, a 20-point plan was announced. He said that he then spoke to the Saudi foreign minister, who said that the urgent points put forth by the eight countries were accepted but some things still required further engagement.
Quoting the Saudi minister, he said that at that point there were two choices: to continue and perhaps Israel will continue its bloodshed, or we let Trump’s plan be implemented and issue a joint statement.
Eight Arab and Muslim nations released a statement on Monday backing US President Donald Trump‘s plan to end Israel‘s genocide in Gaza and establish an international peace keeping force there.
The countries are: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Statement summary
Not yet available.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has urged the global community to act decisively to stop “Israeli aggression”, which could have “grave consequences”.
“The failure of international community to take firm actions to end the Israeli aggression and violation will only cause further instability and insecurity regionally and globally,” he told the UN General Assembly.
“Such an action will have grave consequences and will escalate war crimes and acts of genocide.”
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will take part in the upcoming United Nations high-level conference on the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution, scheduled for Sept. 22 in New York, either through a live remote connection or a pre-recorded message.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) have discussed preparations for a two-state solution conference on Palestine, which they will host on September 22 in New York City.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two leaders discussed the outcomes of a past high-level international conference on resolving the Palestinian issue through a two-state solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France on July 28-30.
The agreement states that an attack against one country will be considered an attack against both.
This landmark pact is considered a revolutionary step, solidifying the depth of the strategic partnership and defense cooperation between the two nations. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir played a key role in the successful finalization of the agreement.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embrace each other on the day they sign a defence agreement, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 17, 2025.
The minister further noted that Saudi Arabia has completed the essential administrative preparations to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol in cooperation with the IAEA and has fully implemented the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, as of early 2025.
The meeting was convened at the invitation of the United States. The ministers have engaged in extensive consultations on the conflict in Sudan, recalling that it has provoked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and poses grave risks to regional peace and security.
The ministers committed to the shared set of principles with regard to ending the conflict in Sudan:
The conflicting parties of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have committed war crimes and atrocities since mid-April 2023. On September 9, 2025, the UN Human Right Council submitted a report documenting that dozens of detainees have reportedly killed due to torture and the systematic deprivation of food and medical treatment since June.
It has been estimated that the war claimed the lives of 150,000 people by June 2024. As of July 2025, 12 million people had been forced to flee their homes, including 7.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)—more than half of whom are children, said Migration Policy Institute on July 17, 2025.
Here is the full text of the joint statement:
With 142 votes in favour, the General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration, which calls for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution.
Today, the General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the two-State solution. The Declaration, circulated at a high-level international conference held from 28 to 30 July, sets out an action-oriented pathway towards a peaceful settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the realization of the two-State solution — the vision of an independent State of Palestine living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security, based on the pre-1967 borders.
„Saudi Arabia rejects and condemns the Israeli aggression against Qatar and would mobilize all its capabilities in supporting the neighboring country,“ he said while inaugurating, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the activities of the second year of the 9th session of the Shoura Council in Riyadh on Wednesday. “We reject and condemn the aggressions of the Israeli occupation in the region, most recently its brutal attack on the State of Qatar. This aggression requires Arab, Islamic, and international action to stop the occupation and deter its criminal practices aimed at destabilizing the region,” he said.
He also noted that the Kingdom‘s diplomatic efforts have led to a growing number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine. He highlighted the success of the recent High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held in New York, calling it an unprecedented gathering that has significantly strengthened international consensus around the peace initiative.
Regional leaders are rushing to Qatar in the wake of Israel’s deadly strike on Doha in a show of support.
Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed are expected to land in the Qatari capital today, Reuters reported.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to follow on Thursday, underscoring the gravity of Israel’s attack and the regional outrage it has provoked.
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call on Tuesday with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During the call, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom‘s full support for the State of Qatar and its condemnation of the blatant Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, saying that this constitutes a criminal act and a flagrant violation of international laws and norms. The Crown Prince also vowed that Saudi Arabia would employ all its capabilities to support its brothers in the State of Qatar and the measures Doha is taking to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty.
The Vice President of the State of Palestine conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his Crown Prince, expressing thanks and appreciation for the Kingdom‘s steadfast positions and great efforts in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause at all levels.
For his part, the Crown Prince conveyed his greetings to President Mahmoud Abbas, stressing the importance of continuing efforts to garner international recognition of the State of Palestine and supporting efforts aimed at the success of the international peace conference scheduled to be held in New York on September 22.
The President praised the Kingdom‘s pivotal and constructive role in mobilizing international support for the recognition of the State of Palestine and its embodiment on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
President Abbas further commended the Kingdom’s role in leading the Arab-Islamic efforts in two emergency summits, as well as the Arab-Islamic Committee, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for its significant efforts within this framework, the formation of the international coalition, and the convening of the International Conference on Peace in New York.
The call also addressed ongoing preparations for the International Peace Conference in New York on 22 September and efforts to mobilize further recognitions of the State of Palestine, including the recognition of the State of Palestine by France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Singapore and the announcements made by other countries expressing their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, to enhance the prospects of achieving a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.
(July 29, 2025)
Hamas’ savage October 2023 attack and Israel’s horrific war of retaliation have reignited the call for a two-state solution. I applaud the joint French-Saudi UN initiative in support of a two-state solution in the hope that it will awaken the international community and end this most destructive and most protracted conflict since World War II.
They reached consensus on these fundamental principles in general terms. They plan rapid implementation, beginning with Gaza warfare termination.
1. Gaza hostilities will conclude within two weeks, ending conditions will encompass four Arab nations (including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates) to administer the Gaza Strip, replacing the murderous Hamas terrorist organization. The remaining Hamas leadership will face exile to other countries, while the hostages gain freedom……
Per Israel Hayom, the five points discussed were as follows:
1. Wrapping up the war on Gaza within two weeks and allowing for Egypt and the UAE to administer Gaza, replacing Hamas. Israel‘s remaining captives in the strip would also be released during this time.
2. Multiple countries taking in Gaza residents for resettlement.
3. The Abraham Accords expanding to include Saudi Arabia and Syria, and potentially other neighbours.
4. Israel declaring its „willingness for future Palestinian conflict resolution“ under the „two-state solution“ concept, contingent upon reforms of the Palestinian Authority.
5. Washington acknowledged Israel‘s „limited“ sovereignty over the occupied West Bank.
Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press U.S. President Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire with Iran in return for Tehran‘s flexibility in nuclear negotiations, two Iranian and three regional sources told Reuters on Monday.
Therefore, although it is still too early to disclose the full extent of Arab involvement, there are indications that Israel operated over the airspace of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria – the latter likely without its knowledge or consent.
Jordanian fighter jets intercepted Iranian drones over Jordanian territory.
It is also reasonable to assume that the regional air system, established following the Abraham Accords and Israel’s inclusion in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) – known as the Middle East Air Defense – was activated to intercept Iranian drones, as it was during Iran’s two previous attacks in April and October 2024.
(June 2, 2025)
Concerns about uranium-enrichment and related potential nuclear-weapons ambitions of both Iran and Saudi Arabia could be dealt with by a regional nuclear consortium within which enrichment-related activities would be spread across and shared among states, rather than be national nuclear programs.
We sketch here a possible regional multinational nuclear consortium whose initial core partners are Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
(December 17, 2024)
Saudi Arabia has the characteristics of a nuclear hedger: a state that lays the groundwork for the active pursuit of nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia has stated the conditions under which it would pursue nuclear weapons. It already possesses dual-capable delivery systems and seeks reactors to produce weapons-grade uranium. Its inability to enrich nuclear material alone prevents Saudi Arabia from gaining nuclear latency that it can rapidly convert into nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia is best categorized as an insurance hedger that seeks to reduce the time needed to build a bomb. Regardless of the categorization of Saudi Arabia’s hedging, its interest in nuclear weapons has entered a new, acute stage.