The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and affirmed Riyadh’s inherent right to defend itself, its territory and its people in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The joint position emerged from a meeting of the four top diplomats in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, where they exchanged views on recent regional and international developments and expressed deep concern over ongoing conflicts in the region.
Joint Statement Condemns Attacks on the Kingdom
In a joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the ministers said they “strongly condemned all attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the recent Houthi attacks,” and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the Kingdom.
The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia. Attacks carried out by the group this month wounded more than 80 people and disrupted operations of a major oil pipeline, underscoring the mounting security threat facing Riyadh.
Concern Over Maritime Navigation and Red Sea Security
The ministers stressed the importance of safeguarding the safety and freedom of maritime navigation in the region. Their concern comes as the Houthis have advanced in recent weeks along Yemen’s Red Sea coast around the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait, raising fears about commercial shipping and energy supplies already strained by disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
The four diplomats reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation in support of peace and stability in the Middle East and the broader region.
Diplomacy Urged as the Only Path Forward
The foreign ministers underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only path toward a sustainable resolution of regional tensions. In this context, they called for upholding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan helped broker the MoU in June, which sought to halt military operations and create a pathway toward a broader settlement, including negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions and regional security. Both sides, however, resumed attacks on each other shortly afterwards and have since been locked in a stalemate.
Support for Palestinian Statehood Reiterated
The ministers also reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause to peace, security and stability in the Middle East.
“The Ministers reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the joint statement said.
