In his address to the UN General Assembly, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in all international waterways, namely the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

“The security of the Gulf region is part and parcel of the security of the region, and the world at large. The stability of this vital region is directly linked to global energy security, the steadiness of international trade and the resilience of global supply chains,” he says in his speech.

Prince Faisal notes that safeguarding international navigation and global supply chains is a shared responsibility which requires serious international cooperation

“In this regard, the kingdom stresses the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in all international waterways, foremost among them the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” he adds.

“We must restore the situation in the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-Feb 28 status, without the imposition of any fees or restrictions,” he states, adding that Riyadh rejects the use of these waters as an “instrument of pressure, threat or harm” to other countries.