Summary Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vows decisive response to threats, urges regional de-escalation
(Web Desk) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) said on Wednesday that the Kingdom would respond “decisively” to any threat or attack against its security, while stressing that Riyadh would continue working to reduce regional tensions and support diplomatic solutions.
“We will not hesitate to respond decisively to any threat or aggression aimed at undermining the security of our country,” the Crown Prince said in the annual royal address to the Shura Council in Riyadh, delivered on behalf of King Salman.
MBS said Saudi Arabia was making every effort to de-escalate tensions and support diplomatic solutions without compromising its security, and praised the Kingdom’s forces for confronting threats.
He said recent attacks against Gulf countries had demonstrated that Gulf security was “indivisible,” adding that Saudi Arabia possessed highly capable military and human resources able to deter threats regardless of their source.
The Crown Prince also said the Makkah Defence Alliance would contribute to strengthening security and stability in the region, while stressing Riyadh’s pursuit of strategic cooperation and economic integration among Gulf states.
Turning to the global energy crisis, MBS described Saudi Arabia as a safeguard for global energy security and said the Kingdom had demonstrated its ability to maintain oil supplies to international markets despite the regional escalation.
“The world today is facing an energy crisis with open-ended possibilities,” he said.
The Crown Prince rejected the use of international waterways as tools for political or economic pressure, an issue that has taken on greater urgency amid disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.
The two waterways are critical arteries for global trade and energy shipments. Disruptions have contributed to higher shipping and insurance costs and intensified concerns over global energy supplies.
Yemen and Palestine
On Yemen, MBS accused the Houthis of choosing “chaos, destruction and threatening Yemenis and the region” and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive support for the internationally recognized Yemeni government in extending its authority across the country.
The comments follow an escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi territory and infrastructure in recent weeks.
On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Crown Prince condemned the “brutal attacks” by Israeli authorities against Palestinians.
