Riyadh: The Arab ministers of interior convened today for the 43rd session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council via video conference. The Kingdom's delegation was led by Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, who is also Honorary President of the Arab Interior Ministers Council.
According to Saudi Press Agency, in his speech during the meeting, the interior minister conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud noted that the meeting was taking place in light of current regional circumstances, including Iranian attacks on several Arab and regional states. He emphasized that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns these attacks, which have put civilians and vital infrastructure at increasing risk. He stated that such aggression constitutes a serious threat to the region's security and stability and cannot be justified under any pretext. Additionally, he added that Iran's actions aimed at destabilizing the region violate international conventions and pose a threat to international peace and security.
He highlighted the global rise in organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, extremism, terrorism, and cybercrime, within a context marked by rapid geopolitical and technological changes. He pointed out that transnational organized crime networks are evolving, the synthetic drug economy is growing, and digital technologies are being exploited to spread extremism, launder money, and traffic in persons-particularly in fragile or conflict-affected areas. Cybercrime, digital fraud, and ransomware attacks have become widespread and impactful threats, exacerbated by the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools.
The minister of interior emphasized that addressing emerging security challenges requires a multidimensional framework encompassing human, technological, intellectual, and societal capabilities. He noted that security is now intertwined with the knowledge economy, and that societies that invest in knowledge, research, and innovation are better equipped to create proactive, forward-looking security policies. He considers this investment to be the cornerstone of prosperity and stability.
He explained that as societal resilience and Arab partnerships strengthen and intellectual capabilities advance, we will be closer to achieving sustainable security that meets the aspirations of the Arab region now and in the future.
In conclusion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud expressed his gratitude to the security agencies of the Arab states for their continued efforts in maintaining security and stability. He also thanked the secretary-general and the staff of the General Secretariat of the council for their efforts in preparing for this meeting.