Saudi Arabia draws red line: Will defend itself and its interests

MOSCOW — Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan affirmed that Saudi Arabia will use all available means to protect its interests and will not hesitate to defend itself against the Houthi aggression. He made the remarks while speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after their meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. Prince Faisal said that the Houthis have “opened a Pandora’s box.” He affirmed that the path of diplomacy remains open and that the Kingdom will not hesitate to support any action that serves the interests of Yemen and the region. The Saudi foreign minister stated that the Houthis resort to violence whenever they find themselves in a difficult position, prioritizing their narrow self-interests over the interests of Yemen. He emphasized that the legitimate Yemeni government has provided an opportunity for responsible negotiations, but the Houthis insist on inflicting suffering on the Yemeni people. For his part, Lavrov stated that the Houthi militia’s attacks on civilian targets in the Kingdom endanger civilian lives and negatively impact the global economy, asserting that these attacks will be counterproductive. “Moscow and Riyadh are calling for the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum between Iran and the United States,” he said while pledging Russia’s support for the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement in Yemen. During the press conference, Prince Faisal and Lavrov spoke about several regional and international developments, as well as the ways to de-escalate tensions and resolve crises. Prince Faisal stressed the importance of continued consultation and coordination with Russia on regional and international developments, as well as strengthening dialogue to contribute to de-escalation and support efforts aimed at resolving crises. Earlier, Prince Faisal and Lavrov held official talks that focused on ways to further enhance cooperation and bilateral relations between the Kingdom and Russia. During the meeting, Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of Saudi-Russian cooperation and its role in supporting the stability of energy markets. He expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration to continue dialogue and strengthen cooperation with Russia across various fields. For his part, Lavrov affirmed his country’s interest in efforts aimed at resolving the situation in the Middle East and continuing dialogue and coordination on issues of mutual concern. He stated that Saudi-Russian cooperation within the OPEC+ alliance contributes to achieving a balance between supply and demand in the oil market. He noted the two countries’ keenness to strengthen their partnership and expand areas of cooperation.