GCC Secretary-General Holds Meeting with Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Saudi Arabia advocates for a future of peace, development, and cooperation in the Middle East.
- The Kingdom participated in the Oslo Forum, emphasizing its role in mediation and sustainable peacebuilding.
- Saudi Arabia supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state and the fulfillment of Palestinian rights as crucial for regional peace.
Saudi Arabia has articulated a vision for the Middle East centered on peace, development, and cooperation, asserting that the region's peoples deserve a future free from conflict. This stance was highlighted during the Kingdom's participation in the Oslo Forum 2026, an event convened under the patronage of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The peoples of the region deserve a future built on peace, development, and cooperation.
Representing Saudi Arabia at the forum, Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Manal bint Hassan Radwan addressed the main session on "Mediation in a Turbulent Middle East." She underscored Saudi Arabia's long-standing commitment to mediation and peacebuilding, emphasizing that the nation's approach is rooted in respect for rights, human dignity, and universal security. Radwan noted that decades of regional power struggles have inflicted severe humanitarian, political, and economic costs, arguing that lasting stability can only be achieved through collective security, not dominance.
lasting stability cannot be achieved through dominance or imposed realities, but through a collective security framework based on cooperation, state sovereignty, strong national institutions, and adherence to international law.
Radwan reiterated that establishing an independent Palestinian state and ensuring the Palestinian people's legitimate rights are essential prerequisites for lasting regional peace and integration. She pointed to Saudi-led initiatives, such as the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and the New York Declaration, as practical frameworks for advancing these goals. The Kingdom also reaffirmed its support for efforts to end the war in Gaza and implement relevant international initiatives.
creating an independent Palestinian state and the fulfillment of the Palestinian peopleโs legitimate rights remain essential to achieving lasting regional peace and integration.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia's regional security vision emphasizes inclusivity, cooperation, and adherence to international norms. The Kingdom acknowledged the contributions of China, Oman, and Iraq in fostering rapprochement with Iran and promoting de-escalation. While noting a growing willingness among some regional actors to engage in cooperative security frameworks, Radwan observed that Israel continues to pursue a security doctrine based on military superiority. She stressed that continued occupation, annexation, and settlement policies undermine regional stability and hinder genuine integration based on equality and international law. Saudi Arabia affirmed its commitment to tirelessly working through strategic partnerships to advance sustainable peace and security.
the continued occupation, along with annexation and settlement policies, undermines efforts to build a sustainable regional security architecture and hinders the achievement of genuine regional integration founded on equality, respect for rights, sovereignty, and international law.
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.