As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts to strengthen its strategic relations, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held separate telephone conversations with Her Excellency Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and His Excellency Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The calls addressed ways to enhance bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional and international developments.
General context and historical background of relations
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys deep-rooted and historic relations with both Indonesia and Pakistan, extending beyond traditional diplomacy to encompass profound religious, cultural, and economic ties. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, is a pivotal partner for the Kingdom in the Islamic world, and the Kingdom receives hundreds of thousands of Indonesian pilgrims annually, strengthening the spiritual and social bonds between the two nations. Pakistan, for its part, is a long-standing strategic ally of the Kingdom, with relations spanning decades of close cooperation in the political, military, and economic spheres, underpinned by strong fraternal ties.
The importance of the talks and their expected impact
These talks come at a critical juncture marked by escalating geopolitical challenges, lending them particular significance. Bilaterally, these discussions aim to advance economic and investment cooperation in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and attract foreign investment. With their large markets and human capital, Indonesia and Pakistan are considered promising partners in this endeavor.
Regionally and internationally, Saudi coordination with Jakarta and Islamabad is of paramount importance given pressing issues, most notably the Palestinian question and the situation in Gaza. The Kingdom is working to garner support and unify positions within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other international forums to press for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Furthermore, ongoing consultations with these two influential countries enhance the Islamic world's ability to address shared challenges, such as combating terrorism and extremism, and achieving regional security and stability.
These diplomatic efforts reflect the Kingdom’s leading role and its endeavor to build bridges of fruitful cooperation that not only serve its national interests, but also contribute to strengthening peace and stability at the regional and global levels.
