High-level diplomatic meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference
In a move reflecting the depth of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, Ambassador Deborah Lippstadt. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the 2024 Munich Security Conference, one of the most prominent international forums for discussing security policies and global challenges. The meeting was also attended by His Royal Highness's Advisor, Mr. Mohammed Al-Yahya, and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Manal Radwan, underscoring the importance the Kingdom attaches to these discussions.
General context: International efforts to counter hatred and extremism
This meeting comes at a time when the world is witnessing a worrying rise in hate speech and discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. Antisemitism is considered one of the oldest and most persistent forms of hatred, prompting many countries, most notably the United States, to establish high-level diplomatic positions to combat it globally. For its part, Saudi Arabia, within the framework of its Vision 2030, has adopted a clear approach aimed at promoting the values of moderation, tolerance, and openness to different cultures and religions. The Kingdom is working diligently to dismantle extremist ideologies through extensive educational and religious reforms, in addition to supporting interfaith dialogue platforms such as the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID).
The importance of the meeting and its expected impact
This meeting is of particular importance on several levels. Domestically, it underscores the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to its reform agenda and its pursuit of a positive image as a leading nation in promoting peace and coexistence. Regionally, the cooperation between a country of Saudi Arabia's size and stature in the Islamic world and the United States on a sensitive issue like combating antisemitism sends a powerful message against all forms of religious extremism and supports efforts to build bridges of understanding in the deeply polarized Middle East. Internationally, this cooperation represents a model of constructive partnership between civilizations to address shared challenges and contributes to strengthening global efforts to protect human rights and religious minorities, and to solidify the principles of mutual respect among peoples.
Discussion topics: Towards common understanding and peaceful coexistence
The discussion between Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Ambassador Lippstadt focused on reviewing joint efforts to promote the values of dialogue and tolerance, and ways to combat extremism in all its forms. Both sides emphasized the importance of enriching mutual understanding and deepening the foundations of coexistence among different societies. The talks addressed practical mechanisms for strengthening these values, whether through educational curricula, media platforms, or cultural events that bring together different religions. This dialogue represents a further step in the long history of cooperation between the two countries to counter ideologies that fuel hatred and violence, and underscores that combating extremism requires concerted international efforts and a shared vision.
