Seven files on the issues that have defined the minister’s tenure. Every file uses the same seven headings, so that issues can be compared — and so that the Saudi position is always set beside the international context.
Beijing, 6 April 2023. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Qin Gang and Faisal bin Farhan after the Saudi–Iranian foreign ministers’ meeting. Photograph: AP. (This image illustrates File II as well as the diplomacy of this period.)
Background
The Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi proposal adopted by the Arab League in Beirut on 28 March 2002, offers Arab normalisation with Israel in return for withdrawal to the 1967 lines, a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just solution for refugees. US-brokered talks on Saudi–Israeli normalisation were active in 2023 and paused after 7 October 2023.
Saudi position
On 5 February 2025 the ministry stated that the Kingdom’s position on a Palestinian state was “non-negotiable” and that it would not establish relations with Israel without an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Diplomatic engagement
Chair of the Arab-Islamic ministerial committee (from November 2023); launch of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (26 September 2024); co-chair, with France, of the UN conference that adopted the New York Declaration (July 2025) and of its resumed session (22 September 2025).
International context
The General Assembly endorsed the New York Declaration on 12 September 2025 by 142 votes to 10, with 12 abstentions; Israel and the United States voted against. France and several other states announced recognition of Palestine in September 2025. A Gaza ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025.
In his words
“We agree that regional peace includes peace for Israel, but that could only happen through peace for the Palestinians through a Palestinian state” — World Economic Forum, Davos, 16 January 2024 (Reuters, via VOA).
Timeline & key developments
Arab Peace Initiative adopted
Riyadh Arab-Islamic summit creates the ministerial committee
Global Alliance launched
First Global Alliance meeting, Riyadh
UN conference co-chaired with France
New York Declaration endorsed
Gaza ceasefire takes effect
Saudi Arabia joins the Board of Peace
Global Alliance session in Rome
II
Regional security & de-escalation
Background
The first years of the minister’s tenure saw a turn from confrontation to negotiated arrangements: restored relations with Qatar (2021) and Iran (2023), talks with the Houthis (2023) and Syria’s return to the Arab League (2023). In 2026 that approach was tested by a regional war that began on 28 February and by Houthi attacks on the Kingdom from July.
Saudi position
The Kingdom has presented de-escalation as its preference while affirming its right to self-defence. In March 2026 the ministry said Saudi airspace had not been used for attacks on Iran and affirmed its right to take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its security and sovereignty.
Diplomatic engagement
Follow-up meetings with Iran’s foreign ministers from 2023; the Riyadh consultative meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers (March 2026); the Istanbul committee under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (August 2026).
International context
Pakistan’s mediation between the United States and Iran was credited with an April 2026 ceasefire; the Kingdom’s Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan dates from September 2025 and its Strategic Defense Agreement with the United States from November 2025.
In his words
“We want pressure that leads to talks, and we hope that the Iranians will choose that path rather than lashing out with their military or with their ballistic missiles or with their proxies” — Washington Institute forum, 15 October 2020 (edited excerpt).
Timeline & key developments
AlUla Declaration
Beijing agreement with Iran
Houthi delegation in Riyadh
Saudi–Pakistan defence agreement
US–Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement
Regional war begins
Istanbul trilateral defence committee
III
Conflict mediation
Background
Since 2022 Saudi Arabia has become a venue for negotiations between other parties: Russia and Ukraine (prisoner releases and a 2023 national security advisers’ meeting), the United States and Russia (2025), the United States and Ukraine (2025), and Sudan’s warring parties (from 2023).
Saudi position
The Kingdom presents itself as ready to host and facilitate. “We stand ready to continue our mediation efforts between the parties to the conflict,” the minister told the UN General Assembly in September 2024 (UN News rendering).
Diplomatic engagement
Present as host, with the National Security Adviser, at the US–Russia talks in Riyadh (18 February 2025) and the US–Ukraine talks in Jeddah (11 March 2025). The August 2023 Jeddah meeting on Ukraine was chaired by the National Security Adviser.
International context
The US–Ukraine joint statement of 11 March 2025 proposed a 30-day ceasefire. The Jeddah Declaration on Sudan (11 May 2023) was followed by a short-term ceasefire that broke down; talks were suspended on 1 June 2023.
Timeline & key developments
Jeddah talks on Sudan begin
Jeddah meeting on Ukraine
US–Russia talks, Riyadh
US–Ukraine talks, Jeddah
Quad statement on Sudan
IV
Humanitarian diplomacy
Background
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) was established on 13 May 2015. The Saudi Fund for Development, founded in 1974, finances development projects abroad. At the Saudi–Africa Summit of November 2023 the Kingdom announced more than US$5 billion in development finance for Africa through 2030.
Saudi position
At the UN in September 2024 the minister said Saudi aid to the Palestinian people since October 2023 exceeded US$5 billion (SPA); in September 2025 he cited more than US$141 billion in Saudi aid over the Kingdom’s history (SPA).
Diplomatic engagement
Signed a US$100 million humanitarian programme and a US$300 million oil-products grant in Kyiv (26 February 2023).
KSrelief to end-August 2026
Cumulative KSrelief figures reported by Arab News, 1 September 2026: 4,457 projects, US$8.57 billion, 113 countries.
Recipient
Value (US$)
Projects
Yemen
4.79 bn
1,228
Syria
586 m
530
Palestine
547 m
159
Somalia
258 m
168
Pakistan
228 m
353
Sudan
196 m
not stated
V
Energy & maritime security
Background
Saudi Arabia is a founding member of OPEC (1960) and co-leader of OPEC+ (2016). Its exports depend on the Strait of Hormuz and on Red Sea routes via Yanbu.
Saudi position
In Moscow on 8 September 2026 the minister described Saudi–Russian cooperation as vital to the stability of global energy markets (Arab News).
Diplomatic engagement
Navigation through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab was on the agenda of his talks with Japan (20 August 2026) and the United Kingdom (12 May 2026).
International context
The UAE left OPEC and OPEC+ with effect from 1 May 2026. Al-Monitor reported that Saudi output for August 2026 fell to 6.238 million barrels a day and exports to about 3.2 million, as Hormuz disruption and Houthi attacks constrained routes.
Timeline & key developments
OPEC founded
OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation
Hormuz shipping disrupted
UAE exit takes effect
Houthi “blockade” declared
OPEC+ adjustment for September
VI
Multilateralism & global governance
Background
Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the UN and, since 2020, a former G20 president. It has attended BRICS summits as an invited country and the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting as an invited partner.
Saudi position
At the General Assembly in 2023 the minister called for respect for the UN Charter; at the 2024 general debate he warned against “political polarization” (UN News renderings).
Diplomatic engagement
A session on global-governance reform at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting (March 2026); a Munich Security Conference panel on reforming the international order (13 February 2026).
International context
These debates take place as major powers disagree over the structure of the UN Security Council and the role of new groupings such as BRICS.
VII
Sovereignty & international law
Background
Respect for sovereignty and non-interference is written into the Saudi–Iranian–Chinese statement of March 2023 and recurs in Saudi statements on Syria, Sudan, Yemen and the Gulf.
Saudi position
After the Israeli strike on Doha of 9 September 2025, Saudi Arabia joined the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha (15 September) that condemned it. On the New York Declaration, the minister welcomed a vote reflecting Palestinian rights “in line with international frameworks, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative” (22 September 2025, Arab News).
Diplomatic engagement
Took part in the Doha preparatory ministerial meeting (14 September 2025); addressed the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on 25 August 2025.
International context
States differ sharply in how they apply these principles to the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen and Sudan; this file records the Saudi statements without endorsing any government’s interpretation.
