Every day, the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is increasingly prominent, affirming its pivotal global role in addressing challenges and engaging in serious diplomatic efforts to find solutions to complex political issues. In recent days, Saudi Arabia hosted three summits—Arab, African, and Islamic—all of which strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the genocide in the Gaza Strip, and unequivocally rejected the Zionist policy of displacement aimed at emptying the Palestinian cause of its essence, amid global silence and bias towards the aggressors. The decision was made to rally significant global opinion in response to this complex crisis.
The Palestinian issue was not the only topic on the discussion table; there were also developmental issues that Saudi Arabia is spearheading due to its political and economic stature and global influence. This effort culminated in actions from the African continent aimed at enhancing development plans that elevate the economic levels of those countries, enabling them to better exploit their resources and giving Africa the international influence it deserves. In line with this leadership approach, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' developmental initiative in Africa was launched, introducing developmental projects and programs in African nations valued at over one billion dollars over ten years. Additionally, the Kingdom is making substantial new investments across various sectors and is actively working to increase the number of its embassies in Africa to more than 40.
Saudi-African relations are firmly established and exhibit mutual respect. The Kingdom has not distanced itself from its African surroundings; on the contrary, it has been deeply engaged. Saudi Arabia has provided over 45 billion dollars to support developmental and humanitarian projects in 54 African countries, and the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Works has increased its aid to more than 450 million dollars in 46 African nations.
According to Al-Riyadh newspaper, the Kingdom is determined to develop cooperative and partnership relations with African countries and to enhance trade and integration fields. Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to publicly support the African Union's bid for permanent membership in the G20, believing in Africa's role and keen on supporting innovative solutions to address the overwhelming African debt that hinders development projects. The Kingdom's leading position is evident through its commitment to providing food for more than 750 million African people.
The first Saudi-African summit reflects a shared commitment to enhance cooperation that contributes to establishing security and peace in the region and the world, along with a consensus on condemning the military aggression in Gaza, targeting civilians, and the continued violations by the Israeli occupying authority of international humanitarian law. There is a strong assertion of the necessity to stop this war and forced displacement and to create conditions for stability and peace to return.
Saudi diplomatic efforts are diligently working to bridge the divide among the Sudanese people through direct talks among all parties to reach a solution that avoids the Arab countries the devastation and economic deterioration, maintains the unity of Sudanese territory, and ensures the safety of its people and resources. This is further supported by the African position backing efforts to achieve security and stability.
From the Kingdom’s stature and influence, its diplomatic strategy is amplified by convening an Islamic summit alongside the emergency Arab summit to garner regional and global support for the Palestinian cause and to push for the implementation of UN decisions in reality so that the Palestinian people can have their independent state.
