Gulf-US relations long-term and strategic
RIYADH: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, headed the Sultanate of Oman's delegation at the Gulf-US Summit held in Riyadh on Wednesday.
In his speech during the summit, HH Sayyid Asaad conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his best wishes for the success of the meeting.
The speech reads as follows: "I am honoured to represent His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, at this important Gulf-US summit. I am pleased to convey to you all His Majesty's greetings and his best wishes for the success of this meeting.
We hereby express our deep thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their kind invitation to this summit.
We would also like to express our thanks and appreciation to the United States of America for its ardent and constructive partnership. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its hospitality and warm welcome.
We meet here today at a historical moment, one that we hope it will help shape a better future for the Middle East and chart out a path of stability, prosperity and goodness for all. The Gulf-US relations are long-term and strategic that aim at establishing the foundations of security, stability and prosperity.
This partnership that binds us takes shape in our shared commitment to achieve integration and reciprocity in political, economic, technological and defence interests, besides cooperating to resolve regional and international crises and addressing challenges. In this context, we would like to express our profound concern about the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the outcome of decades of illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. This ongoing injustice, coupled with the international community's inability to achieve a just peace, is at the heart of many regional challenges. Yet, a glimmer of hope still exists.
HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said with US President Donald Trump at the Gulf-US Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.
PEACE AND STABILITY
We have witnessed historic steps being made towards peace and stability. We would like to express our appreciation for President Donald Trump's constructive role in ending the conflict with Yemen and restoring safe navigation in the Red Sea. We hope that this achievement will pave the way for further success in the Yemeni issue, leading to a lasting peace and prosperity for this age-old Arab country.
It is encouraging to observe the realism and mutual respect that mark the ongoing dialogue between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran about the non-proliferation of nuclear arms. These efforts inspire confidence in the possibility of reaching a practical and sustainable agreement between the two sides, motivating us all to cooperate collectively to address other issues in the region.
The Trump administration's pursuit of a policy of strategic diplomacy – which favours dialogue and deal-making over escalation and confrontation – represents an exemplary approach that is highly welcomed by us. By engaging all parties and, by challenging outdated theories, the United States has opened a practical path for real positive change.
LASTING SECURITY
We hereby reaffirm that it is impossible to achieve comprehensive peace, lasting security and the prosperity sought by all except through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, enabling both Palestinians and Israelis to live in dignity, exercise sovereignty over their respective lands and build prosperous and dignified nations. Therefore, we look forward to the Trump administration's drive to resolve this long-standing conflict that weighed heavily our region for a long time.'
Meanwhile, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, also delivered a speech at the opening of the summit saying that this summit is in pursuance of the historical relationship and strategic partnership between the GCC states and the United States of America.
He pointed out that this relationship continued to grow and develop over the past decades and it has become a model for joint cooperation. This, he added, reflects joint commitment to collective action to consolidate relations, expand and develop strategic partnerships in order to meet the common aspirations.
Prince Mohammed said that the GCC states share the United States' belief in the importance of economic partnership and trade cooperation. He described the United States as a major trade and investment partner, as the volume of trade exchange between the two sides stood at about $120 billion in 2024.
"The future we aspire to establish through the Sustainable Development Goals requires a stable and secure environment. We are aware of the magnitude of the challenge facing our region. With Your Excellency, Mr President, and, in cooperation with our brethren in the GCC states, we seek to de-escalate the confrontation in the region, end the war in Gaza and find a lasting and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions in a manner that achieves security and safety for the peoples of the region,' said Prince Mohammed.
HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said heading the Sultanate of Oman's delegation at the Gulf-US Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.
EFFECTIVE ROLE
In his speech, US President Donald Trump said that the GCC states are among the most stable and prosperous nations and that the entire world is looking out for opportunities available in these countries, lauding their effective role in halting the escalation in Gaza and commending their endeavours to enhance prospects for peace in the region.
In his speech, Shaikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, commended the Sultanate of Oman's diplomatic efforts that gave rise to a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Yemen. He pointed out that this step will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.
Shaikh Mishal added, 'The GCC states believe that regional stability is a shared responsibility. Partnership with the United States represents a cornerstone in this process. We hope that this summit will be a step forward in building a more stable, balanced and integrated regional system based on international law, mutual respect and shared interests.'
Shaikh Mishal expressed the hope that the summit would provide a gateway for addressing the region's concerns and highlighting the need to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause. He also hoped that the summit would bolster the international community's efforts to ensure security and stability in Syria, preserve the Arab republic's sovereignty and territorial integrity, end the suffering of its people and halt foreign interference in its affairs.
SAFE ZONE
In his speech, King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain expressed his aspiration for the realisation of further cooperation to establish a safe, stable and prosperous zone that comprises all countries of the region.
King Hamad said that this wise political approach represents a unique opportunity to move towards achieving a just and lasting peace that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people through a two-state solution, preserves regional security and stability and contributes to making the region free of weapons of mass destruction.
In his speech, Jassim Mohammed al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said the Gulf-US partnership - based on solid grounds, supported by figures and facts - paves the way for a future phase of close cooperation in all areas of common interest.
Al Budaiwi noted that the GCC states continue to lead in traditional energy markets and are moving forward with partnerships with the United States in the field of clean energy. He expressed the GCC's hope for the success of international efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and establish an environment that ensures security and stability for the Palestinian people.
The summit dealt with means of consolidating the strategic partnership and economic investment between the GCC states and the United States, notably in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). It also covered current regional and international issues of significance to security and stability in the region. - ONA
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