Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized the need to restore respect for international conventions and norms by consistently applying international law and humanitarian standards. During the “Leadership for Peace” open debate on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Prince Faisal stressed the importance of holding violators accountable "without being selective".
In his address, Prince Faisal highlighted the ongoing Israeli military escalation as a stark example of the shortcomings within the multilateral international system. He pointed out the "absence of serious international action" as conclusive evidence of the system's weakness and the lack of global political will to address such conflicts.
"The Kingdom believes that peace is the foundation that paves the way for cooperation and development, and is the protector of their sustainability", Prince Faisal said, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's commitment to peace as a cornerstone of global development.
Prince Faisal’s remarks come amid a backdrop of rising global conflicts and crises, which he said are exacerbating the lack of trust in the multilateral international system.
He noted that "the pace of conflicts and crises is escalating, common challenges and threats are multiplying, and the crisis of confidence in the multilateral international system and its ability to achieve the hopes of peoples for a future of peace and development is growing".
Acknowledging the pressing need for reform, Prince Faisal called for a reevaluation of the international system's ability to resolve crises.
"These circumstances require us to evaluate the state of international multilateral action and the reasons for its decline in resolving crises and addressing common challenges", he said.
Despite these challenges, Prince Faisal affirmed Saudi Arabia's dedication to strengthening the international system. He stated that the Kingdom "will continue to support the multilateral international system, seek to develop it, enable its purposes, and restore confidence in its institutions. It is also committed to strengthening collective action to achieve common security and development".
Prince Faisal's remarks underscore Saudi Arabia’s role in advocating for a more robust and accountable international framework, particularly in times of escalating global tensions.