Watan-Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stated on Wednesday that Washington and Riyadh had agreed to end the war on Gaza and release all Israeli detainees, in the context of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Kingdom.
In a press conference held on the sidelines of the fifth U.S.-Gulf summit in Riyadh, bin Farhan said: “We need to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible,” adding, “It will be difficult to deliver aid to Gaza without a ceasefire.”
He continued, “We hope the release of U.S. hostage Aidan Alexander will serve as a basis for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” stressing that Saudi Arabia confirmed humanitarian aid would be delivered unconditionally.
On another note, bin Farhan highlighted that Riyadh fully supports the nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran and hopes for positive results, also noting that Saudi Arabia will support Syria’s economic recovery. He added, “There are many investment opportunities in Syria after U.S. sanctions are lifted. Saudi support for Syria will make progress.”
Fifth U.S.-Gulf Summit in Riyadh: Key Takeaways and Strategic Shifts
The Saudi minister also emphasized that defense cooperation between Washington and Riyadh will bolster the Kingdom amid regional tensions.
The fifth U.S.-Gulf summit was held in Riyadh on Wednesday, as part of President Trump‘s Gulf tour, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Attendees welcomed Trump’s decision on Tuesday to lift sanctions on Syria, although it was notable that the Gaza issue was almost completely absent from the leaders’ statements during the summit.
Fifth U.S.-Gulf Summit: Strengthening Strategic Partnerships for Regional Stability
The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday that the summit “adds a new chapter of constructive cooperation and confirms progress toward a more secure, stable, and prosperous future for the region and the world.”
The agency noted that the summit was held in line with Saudi leadership’s commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the United States. This initiative is part of King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s vision to strengthen Gulf cooperation and activate the council’s strategic partnerships regionally and internationally, serving shared interests.
This summit is the fifth between the United States and GCC countries, following four previous summits. The first was held at the U.S. Camp David resort, while Riyadh hosted the others. The first summit took place in May 2015, the second in April 2016, the third in May 2017 with President Trump, and the fourth in July 2022, which also involved leaders from Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.
The Gulf Cooperation Council consists of six countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, and was founded on May 25, 1981, with its headquarters in Riyadh.
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