The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, sent a cable of condolences and sympathy to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King of the Kingdom of Thailand, following the tragic accident in which a crane fell on a train in the northeast of the country, resulting in deaths and injuries.
In his telegram, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his profound sorrow at the news, saying: “We have learned of the crane collapse onto a train in northeastern Thailand, and the resulting deaths and injuries. While sharing in Your Majesty’s grief, we extend to you, the families of the deceased, and the friendly people of Thailand our deepest condolences and sincere sympathies, wishing the injured a speedy recovery and praying that you will be spared any further harm.” These words reflect the depth of human compassion and solidarity that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both its leadership and its people, hold for friendly nations during times of hardship and crisis.
In the same vein, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent a similar cable of condolences to His Majesty the King of Thailand. In his cable, His Royal Highness said: “I have learned of the crane collapse accident on a train in northeastern Thailand, and the resulting deaths and injuries. I extend to Your Majesty, the families of the deceased, and the friendly people of Thailand my deepest condolences and sincere sympathy, wishing the injured a speedy recovery and praying that you will be spared any further harm.”.
Context of growing Saudi-Thai relations
These messages are particularly significant given the remarkable development in bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Thailand. Since the historic announcement of the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries in early 2022, ties between Riyadh and Bangkok have witnessed significant progress across various political, economic, and investment spheres. This step ushered in a new era of joint cooperation, making the exchange of messages of solidarity in such incidents a testament to the strength of the diplomatic bridges that have been rebuilt through the wise leadership of both nations.
The Kingdom's humanitarian and diplomatic role
This generous gesture from the Saudi leadership reflects the Kingdom's consistent approach to its foreign policy, which is based on promoting the values of human solidarity and standing by friendly nations and peoples in the face of disasters and crises. As a pivotal state with significant Islamic and international influence, the Kingdom is always keen to extend a helping hand and offer moral support, thus reinforcing its position as a reliable international partner that prioritizes the humanitarian dimension in its international relations, transcending traditional political frameworks to embrace broader horizons of popular and official solidarity.
