Saudi Arabia, Italy Issue Declaration Stressing Need to Protect Freedom of Navigation and Maritime Security in Straits of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab

On the margins of the meeting of the co-chairs of the working groups of the New York conference and members of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in Rome on July 28 and 29, 2026, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Antonio Tajani and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a bilateral meeting, during which they reviewed regional developments and reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral strategic partnership.
 The two ministers welcomed the outcome of the meetings of the global alliance, reaffirming their support for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, highlighting the role of interfaith dialogue in achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
 They reaffirmed the need to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza, demilitarize the strip, ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians, and launch early recovery activities, as well as support the reform efforts of the Palestinian authority. They condemned the escalating settler violence across the West Bank, underlining the urgent need to protect the Palestinian population. The ministers reiterated their opposition to any form of annexation, whether partial, total, or de facto, of the West Bank and to the forcible displacement of Palestinians.
 The ministers reaffirmed the importance of respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, and stressed the need to safeguard freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden and international sea lanes, in accordance with UNCLOS. They acknowledged the contribution of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR Aspides, and of Italy in particular, to protecting merchant shipping.
 On Yemen, they encouraged all parties to engage constructively in a political process with a view to reaching a comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict. They condemned the Houthis’ attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including attacks targeting civilian infrastructures and critical facilities, as well as the threats posed to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. They reaffirmed the importance of humanitarian and development assistance to Yemen, and their support for the Yemeni people.
 They underlined the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, opposing any unilateral measures that could restrict maritime transit, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Rome Coalition on Fertilizer Access and Food Security in Hormuz to strengthen supply chains and food security, particularly for vulnerable countries in Africa and the Mediterranean.
 The ministers welcomed the continued development of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen cooperation in all key sectors, building on the strategic partnership between the two countries.
 The ministers also discussed the upcoming joint activities related to the next edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano in Riyadh as an example of fruitful bilateral cooperation in the design sector with a focus on industrial excellence, young talents, innovation and creativity.
 The ministers agreed to remain in close contact and continue coordinating their efforts in support of regional stability, peace and security, as well as the advancement of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.