RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will respond decisively to any threat or attack against the Kingdom. In the same address, he stressed that Riyadh would keep working to ease regional tensions and back diplomatic solutions.
The Saudi Crown Prince’s warning came in a speech to the Shura Council, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Gulf Security “Indivisible,” Says Crown Prince
Speaking about the attacks that have targeted Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Prince Mohammed said they showed that “Gulf security and stability are indivisible,” SPA reported.
He said Saudi Arabia would continue working with its Gulf partners on strategic cooperation and economic integration, while giving priority to protecting regional security.
Makkah Joint Defence Alliance
The Crown Prince said the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance (MJDA), formed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, would help strengthen security and stability in the region. It would also help coordinate efforts to deal with regional challenges, SPA reported.
Under the agreement, signed in August, the three countries committed to treating an armed attack on any one of them as an attack on all. Reuters reported that the pact was signed amid rising regional tensions and that later meetings have focused on security coordination and support for Riyadh.
Yemen, Houthis and Maritime Security
On Yemen, Prince Mohammed said Saudi Arabia would continue backing the Yemeni government as it works to establish its authority across the country and restore stability. He accused the Houthis of having “chosen chaos and destruction,” saying they threaten both Yemen and the wider region, according to SPA.
The Crown Prince also said the Kingdom rejects the use of international waterways as a tool of political or economic pressure. Saudi Arabia, he said, has launched a multinational maritime defence alliance to improve maritime security and protect shared interests along these routes.
The alliance was announced as Saudi Arabia faces a growing number of attacks from Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.
Prince Mohammed also praised the Saudi armed forces for their role in confronting threats. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to reducing regional escalation and supporting diplomatic efforts, even as the Saudi Crown Prince’s warning made clear that any attack would meet a firm reply.