Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Reaffirms Kingdom’s Commitment to Non-Aligned Movement Principles and Calls for De-escalation

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement during a high-level commemorative meeting in Serbia marking the 65th anniversary of the movement’s first conference.

Al-Khuraiji said Saudi Arabia has remained committed to the movement’s core principles since its establishment in September 1961, particularly safeguarding the sovereignty of states, protecting the independence of national decision-making and rejecting the use of force as a means of resolving disputes.

He noted that these principles also form a key part of the Kingdom’s foreign policy, which emphasizes dialogue on international issues, cooperation and efforts to promote peace, security and stability.

Kingdom Reaffirms Position on the Palestinian Cause

The Saudi deputy foreign minister highlighted the Non-Aligned Movement’s proactive support for just causes and reaffirmed its longstanding position on the Palestinian issue, while stressing the importance of maintaining stability across the Middle East.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Khuraiji said Israeli actions in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as attacks on the Syrian Arab Republic, violate the rights of the peoples concerned and national sovereignty, contributing to growing tensions and instability across the region.

Call for Political Solutions and De-escalation

Al-Khuraiji warned of the consequences of failing to pursue political solutions to conflicts and of continuing policies based on force and escalation.

He called for respect for international law, freedom of navigation in waterways and efforts to resolve the Palestinian cause.

He also stressed that regional security is a shared responsibility and that sustainable stability requires understandings capable of reducing the risk of confrontation and preventing disputes from expanding into wider crises.

The Kingdom, he said, remains committed to keeping channels of communication open, supporting initiatives aimed at de-escalation and encouraging the parties involved to address the underlying causes of tensions before they develop into broader conflicts.

65 Years Since the Movement’s Founding Conference

The Non-Aligned Movement was established in September 1961 during the Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet Union, with the aim of strengthening the independence of states in their foreign-policy decisions and maintaining a position outside the two competing blocs.

The commemorative meeting in Serbia comes amid growing international and regional challenges, highlighting the continued relevance of principles such as state sovereignty, dialogue and respect for international law in addressing conflicts and crises.