RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman underlined the need for deescalation in the region and stopping the war in the Gaza Strip. Opening the Gulf-US Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Crown Prince applauded US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The summit, convened at the invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, was co-chaired by the Crown Prince and Donald Trump. In his speech, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the Gulf states' strong partnership with the United States, saying that it is instrumental in ensuring the stability and security of the region. He pinned great hope of the Gulf states on continuing work with the US. "We are aware of the magnitude of the challenges facing our region and we strive with you and with our GCC brothers to deescalate tensions in the region and to stop the war in Gaza and to find a permanent and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian crisis in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions, thus achieving security and peace for the peoples of the region," the Crown Prince said, addressing Trump. "We stress our support to ending conflicts through peaceful means," he emphasized. At the outset of his speech, the Crown Prince highlighted the importance of the meeting in the presence of President Trump, saying that the summit meeting is an extension of the historic relationship and strategic partnership between the Gulf countries and the United States of America, which has grown and developed over the past decades to become a model of joint cooperation. "This summit reflects our commitment to collective action to strengthen our relations and expand and develop our strategic partnerships to meet the aspirations of our countries and peoples," he said. The GCC-US Summit, held with President Trump in 2017, emphasized the importance of strengthening the security of the GCC states, protecting their interests, combating terrorism and eliminating terrorist organizations. The summit also highlighted the significance of enhancing the military, security, and defense capabilities of the GCC states, confronting various threats, and meeting regional and international challenges with a shared vision to achieve regional and international security and stability. The Crown Prince emphasized that GCC states share the United States' belief in the importance of economic partnership and trade cooperation. "The United States is a major trading and investment partner for our countries, with the volume of trade exchange between the GCC states and the US reaching approximately $120 billion in 2024. We look forward to continuing to work with the United States to exchange trade, strengthen economic relations, and open new horizons to take advantage of opportunities and cooperate in all fields to achieve our common interests," he noted. Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized that "the future we aspire to through achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a stable and secure environment. We also affirm our support for everything that would end crises and end conflict through peaceful means." "From this standpoint, the Kingdom continues to encourage dialogue between the Yemeni parties and reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen. We will continue our efforts to end the crisis in Sudan through the Jeddah Initiative, which enjoys Saudi-American sponsorship, leading to a complete ceasefire in Sudan. We emphasize the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and the need to support the efforts made by the Syrian government to achieve security and stability." In this regard, the Crown Prince commended the decision made by President Donald Trump on Tuesday to lift sanctions on Syria, which will alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and open a new page toward growth and prosperity. "We reiterate our support the initiatives led by the Lebanese President and government for reforming institutions, restricting arms to the state, and preserving Lebanon's sovereignty and integrity," he said. Regarding the Ukrainian crisis, the Crown Prince affirmed the Kingdom's readiness to continue its efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to end the Ukrainian crisis. "We welcome the efforts of President Trump and his endeavors to end this crisis, to which the president attaches great importance." "Our summit today affirms our commitment to continued cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues, believing in the importance of this in establishing support, security, and stability in the region and the world. We look forward to this summit contributing to achieving its shared goals, which will serve the interests of growth, prosperity, and progress for our peoples," he said.
