World facing ‘unprecedented challenges,’ Saudi FM warns in UN address

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned that the world faces unprecedented challenges, condemning recent Iranian and Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and urging the international community to prioritize Gulf security.

• Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned recent Iranian and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as flagrant violations.
• He stressed that Gulf security is vital to global stability and must be taken seriously by the international community.

Updated 3 min 19 sec ago

September 27, 2026 00:03

Prince Faisal’s address came amid a period of significant regional turbulence, marked by months of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as thousands of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states. Yemen’s Houthi militia have also carried out attacks against Saudi territory.

He emphasized that any effort to build sustainable relations in the region “cannot be based on domination, influence, or the exploitation of crises.” Instead, he argued, they must rest on mutual respect, common interests, good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, and full compliance with international law and humanitarian standards.

The world and the multilateral system are “facing rapidly evolving and unprecedented challenges,” he said, noting that crises arise not from a lack of resources but from “a lack of commitment to the principles agreed upon by the international community.” He called on nations to shoulder their responsibilities in confronting threats to international peace and security.

Prince Faisal highlighted the Middle East’s critical importance, stating that “the stability of this vital region is directly linked to global energy security, the steadiness of international trade, and the resilience of global supply chains.” He warned that safeguarding international navigation and supply‑chain resilience is a shared responsibility demanding serious international cooperation.

He advocated for the protection of freedom of navigation in key waterways, specifically naming the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab Al‑Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

The minister rejected any Iranian attempt to impose fees or transit conditions on civilian vessels passing through Hormuz, responding to Tehran’s recent proposals for tolls. “The Kingdom rejects the use by any party of these vital waterways as an instrument of pressure, threat, or harm to the interests of states in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions,” he declared.

Prince Faisal underscored Saudi support for de‑escalation and mediation efforts in the region, citing initiatives by Qatar and Pakistan. “This would contribute to restoring stability to the region and creating conditions conducive to dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.

“We stress the importance of ensuring that any arrangements on regional security must be comprehensive, effective, and sustainable. They must clearly address the root causes of threats and instability.” He further called for a region free of weapons of mass destruction, while civil nuclear programs should be subject to international oversight.

Saudi‑led peace initiatives in Gaza were a major focus of the speech. “The continued suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the targeting of civilians by the Israeli occupation, the obstruction of humanitarian assistance, attempts at forced displacement, and the continued expansion of illegal settlements all constitute serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law,” he stated.

Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any Israeli attempt to displace Palestinians from their land and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s belief in the two‑state solution as the sole mechanism to end the conflict.

He also highlighted the plight of Yemenis, noting that Saudi aid efforts have reached hundreds of thousands of people. “We’ve provided humanitarian and development assistance to the Republic of Yemen amounting to more than $29 billion; we were the first among humanitarian donors to the Republic of Yemen,” he said.

Prince Faisal welcomed the UN Security Council’s recent condemnation of Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. “The Kingdom calls upon the international community to reject and condemn all the Houthi terrorist militias, aggressions and criminal acts that threaten the security of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab Al‑Mandab Strait,” he added.

Turning to Sudan, he stated that only an intra‑national solution can resolve the conflict, emphasizing support for Sudanese state institutions to meet the aspirations of its people, alleviate humanitarian suffering, and enhance security and stability.

Prince Faisal also welcomed the United States’ removal of sanctions on the Syrian Arab Republic and praised Syria’s efforts toward stability, reconstruction, and development.

He suggested implementing a state monopoly on arms in Lebanon and Iraq, commending Baghdad’s steps toward achieving this goal.

Marking a decade since the launch of Vision 2030, Prince Faisal lauded the Kingdom’s achievements. “The vision has contributed to strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a regional and international hub for business investment, tourism, industry, technology and logistics,” he said.

He highlighted the vulnerability of global energy security, noting that it “rests on its capacity to withstand and adapt to disruptions, ensure the stability of energy supplies, protect critical infrastructure, diversify supply routes and safeguard freedom of navigation.”

These tasks constitute a “shared responsibility that requires sustained international cooperation,” he emphasized.

During the Iran‑Saudi conflict and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia demonstrated its commitment to energy security by “maintaining the continuity of supplies through long‑term investments in infrastructure,” he added, citing the importance of the East‑West Pipeline for global stability.

Petroleum reserves from the Kingdom have helped “mitigate the effects of those disruptions and enhance the reliability of supplies to global markets,” he noted.

Prince Faisal underscored Saudi Arabia’s position as “one of the countries with the lowest carbon and methane emissions globally from hydrocarbon resource production operations.”

The Kingdom continues to develop a more efficient and sustainable energy system through emissions‑reduction technologies, including carbon capture, utilization and storage, and carbon dioxide removal, he added.

“We’ve also expanded the use of renewable energy, the application of innovation and the production of sustainable fuels, including clean hydrogen.

These efforts support energy security, enhance resource efficiency and contribute to achieving sustainability.”

Prince Faisal stressed the need to maintain the reliability of global trade, stating that it “will not only support the Kingdom but also the world at large.”

“We’ve provided logistic support to neighboring countries during the current crisis by opening up our ports for the transport of goods and people. This reflects our responsibility toward the region and the world.”

On artificial intelligence, Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia supports harnessing AI “in the service of humanity and development.” “The Kingdom has taken a leading role in establishing the international network of artificial intelligence capacity‑building centers… The Kingdom also hosts the International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Riyadh under the auspices of UNESCO, thereby strengthening international cooperation in this field.”

Confronting the world’s “unprecedented challenges” requires “the greatest possible measure of wisdom, responsibility and cooperation,” he concluded. “The challenges confronting us cannot be addressed by any state on its own; security can only be consolidated and sustained through adherence to the principles upon which the UN Charter is founded, as well as through a respect for international law.

The Kingdom will continue to work with its partners in the international community to advance sustainable development, peaceful solutions to crises, and every pathway that reinforces stability and builds confidence based on mutual respect, with a view to building a safer and more prosperous future for the region and the world.”

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