Saudi Foreign Minister: Houthis have opened a door that cannot be closed; Kingdom will use all available means to protect its interests

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that “the Houthis have opened a door upon themselves that cannot be closed, and they are attempting to export their problems within Yemen to Saudi Arabia.”

Bin Farhan affirmed that “the Kingdom will use all available means to protect its interests and will not hesitate to defend itself against Houthi aggression.”

Speaking at a press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow, he added that “the Houthis resort to violence whenever they find themselves in a difficult position, and they insist on imposing suffering on the Yemeni people.”

The Saudi Foreign Minister stressed that “the legitimate Yemeni government has provided an opportunity for negotiations with the Houthis in a responsible manner.”

For his part, Bin Farhan confirmed that “cooperation with Russia covers various political files and supports the stability of global markets.”

The Russian Foreign Minister, in turn, affirmed Russia’s full support for Saudi efforts to achieve a roadmap for a peaceful settlement in Yemen.

He stated that “security and freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab strait must be ensured, and existing disputes should be resolved through diplomacy and politics.”

Lavrov said at the joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart: “We will continue close coordination with Saudi Arabia within the framework of OPEC+, and we are interested in enhancing trade exchanges with it.”