The visit began on 7 May with a workshop hosted by the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) about German and Saudi policies towards the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Though deep disagreements divide Riyadh and Berlin with respect to these conflicts, participants from both Saudi Arabia and Germany expressed hope that their respective countries would work together to defend their shared interest in upholding the rules-based global order and international law in an era of constant challenges to these fundamental bedrocks of foreign relations. In this respect, an enlightening exchange occurred on the topic of malign actors in Europe and the Middle East. Remarking on the climate of regional instability that has followed the events of 7 October, discussants observed that Russia and Iran pose the same threat to these guiding principles of international relations: instead of a rules-based order, Moscow and Teheran aspire to create a chaotic world without rules.
The visit concluded with meetings with Michael Kindsgrab, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom, H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Aluwaisheg, Assistant Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Political Affairs and Negotiations, and H.E. Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During these discussions, the German delegation received the opportunity to ask not only about Saudi and GCC positioning towards important foreign-policy challenges but were also able to discuss frankly the war in Gaza, Saudi-Iranian relations, negotiations over a Saudi-Houthi deal, and Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League.
