RIYADH — Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that Saudi Arabia is working to diversify its international partnerships. Speaking at a dialogue session in the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII8) conference in Riyadh on Thursday, he said that the Iranians are moving towards de-escalation with Israel. Prince Faisal emphasized that Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States of America are the best ever and the Kingdom has a comprehensive economic partnership with it. However, he noted that any defense cooperation agreement with the US may be more complicated. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is ready to deal with any future American president. "Saudi Arabia has no preferences among the candidates in the US presidential elections. We are ready to work with any one of the candidates, who will be elected by the American voters," he pointed out. Regarding normalization of relations with Israel, the foreign minister said that there won't be any normalization of relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Prince Faisal revealed that he had emphasized to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that any escalation in the region must be avoided. "Tehran informed us that the continuation of the regional escalation cycle is not in its interest. Saudi Arabia's dialogue with Iran aims to keep relations on the right track," he said. The foreign minister stressed that Saudi Arabia's policy is committed to focusing on development rather than being drawn into regional tensions. "Saudi Arabia has the ability to deal with crises in the region and maintain stability," he said. Regarding the situation in Palestine, Prince Faisal explained that his country is working to find ways for ceasefire in Gaza. "What is happening in northern Gaza is a kind of genocide," he said. The minister noted that the Kingdom is focusing on the issue of a two-state solution. "Saudi Arabia supports efforts for ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have repeatedly collapsed due to Israel's demands," he said. According to Prince Faisal, the Palestinians have the right to self-determination and the establishment of their own state. "The State of Palestine should be a member of the United Nations without delay as the establishment of the State of Palestine is linked to international laws," he noted. On the Lebanese issue, the minister said that Saudi Arabia always stands with the Lebanese people. "The solution to the crisis in Lebanon is up to the Lebanese people and not to external powers," he added. Prince Faisal described Saudi Arabia as a major hub for renewable energy and artificial intelligence.
