Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Commitment to Defend Kingdom’s Sovereignty

The Saudi cabinet renewed on Tuesday its praise on the United States for its commitment to cooperate with the Kingdom to defend its sovereignty and confront threats.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held virtually from Neom amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Kingdom, stressed the cabinet, is keen on its strategic partners with friendly states with which it enjoys relations based on common interests, mutual respect and the pursuit of international efforts to preserve regional and international peace and security.

The ministers also hailed Monday’s announcement by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, of four new laws to reform judicial institutions.

The move, they said, is in line with the ambitions of the Kingdom’s founders and reflects serious efforts to develop the legislative environment in the country. The reforms ensure that justice is met, rights are respected and corruption is confronted.

The leadership of the Kingdom is keen on ensuring the rights of citizens and residents, stressed the ministers.

They also tackled the latest local and international developments related to the pandemic. They reviewed the precautionary measures adopted by the Kingdom, urging the people to constantly respect them as the world grapples with a second wave of the outbreak.

On regional affairs, the cabinet renewed Riyadh’s call on the international community to assume its responsibilities in confronting the hostile practices of the Iranian regime. The practices, it said, threaten international security and peace.

The cabinet slammed the regime for its ongoing violations of international laws, treaties and norms, threats to the security and stability to Arab countries, meddling in their internal affairs and support to armed militias.

It demanded that the countries most affected by the Iranian threats be a main party to any international negotiations on its nuclear program and destabilizing regional activities.

Furthermore, it rejected the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ threats to Yemen’s security and stability and repeated hostile rocket and drone attacks against Saudi civilian areas, airports and facilities. The ministers reiterated Riyadh’s support for diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive solution to the Yemeni crisis based on the three references.

On Libya, the cabinet said Saudi Arabia hoped that the formation of a new interim government will pave the way for a new chapter of security, stability and development in the North African country in a way that preserves its unity and sovereignty. It echoed international calls for the pullout of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, a move that would bar future foreign interference in its affairs.