RIYADH: The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held talks on Tuesday with his counterparts from Spain, Italy, Germany and Greece on Houthi threats to shipping in the Red Sea and efforts to deescalate wider tensions in the Middle East.
In separate calls, Jose Manuel Albares of Spain and Antonio Tajani of Italy condemned threats to southern parts of Saudi Arabia from the Houthi militia in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Giorgos Gerapetritis of Greece reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments in the region with Prince Faisal.
The ministers emphasized the importance of efforts to preserve maritime security in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, and rejected any actions that endanger safe navigation.
Prince Faisal also spoke with Germany’s Johann Wadephul about the security and economic implications of the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned claims by a Houthi military spokesperson that the militant group had imposed a maritime blockade on the Kingdom, and accused the Houthis of dragging Yemen into the wider regional conflict.
Houthi attacks on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea have worsened the situation of the Yemeni people by limiting their ability to travel and causing economic conditions in areas controlled by the armed group to deteriorate, the ministry added.
The Kingdom called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the implementation of Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216 on Yemen itself, and Resolution 2722 on the rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
