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Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, has stressed the critical need for enhanced cooperation and solidarity among Islamic nations, citing the volatile regional conditions and multifaceted crises facing the Muslim world. Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Prince Faisal highlighted the urgency of addressing political, security, economic, social, and humanitarian challenges.

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the region’s volatile conditions and multiple crises, coupled with the political, security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the Islamic world, had made cooperation and solidarity an urgent necessity.

The OIC meeting, which centered on the Palestinian cause, saw the election of Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as the new secretary-general, succeeding Hissein Brahim Taha of Chad. Saudi Arabia reiterated its strong condemnation of Israeli plans to build settlement units under the E1 project, warning that it threatens the prospect of a viable Palestinian state by isolating East Jerusalem. The kingdom reaffirmed its support for an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution and a just, lasting peace.

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the E1 project formed part of a broader policy to impose settlement realities and carry out gradual annexation on the ground.

Prince Faisal also addressed the need for serious reform within the OIC to bolster its capacity to implement resolutions and improve institutional efficiency. He stated that no single country can tackle these interconnected challenges alone, underscoring the imperative for unified action to safeguard the interests of Islamic states and peoples. The minister asserted that the Islamic world possesses the potential to significantly influence international dynamics, provided member states demonstrate solidarity and translate shared principles into effective collective action.

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No country can confront these interconnected challenges alone. This makes it imperative to strengthen collective action and unify positions and efforts to safeguard the interests of states and peoples.

The Saudi minister reaffirmed Riyadh's commitment to supporting efforts that strengthen the OIC's role and advance the aspirations of the Islamic world for security and stability. The organization's strength, he noted, hinges on unity among its members and their ability to translate common interests into tangible collective action.

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the Islamic world, with its demographic, political, economic and civilizational weight, possesses the capabilities to become an effective participant in shaping international balances.