Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Our Human and Military Capabilities Can Fully Counter and Deter Threats Regardless of Their Source
On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, opened the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council.
Delivering the annual royal address on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the blessed nation will complete 300 years since its founding on the upcoming Founding Day, having stood through all its stages upon the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, steadfast in monotheism and justice. This is a path we will not deviate from, preserving its heritage and authentic values, which grow deeper and stronger with time, enabling citizens to remain more firmly attached to their pure faith and entrenched national identity.
He added, “God has honored our nation with the service and development of the Two Holy Mosques and the care of their visitors. This is an extension of our inherited commitment in this regard and a pride in the great honor bestowed upon us by God.”
He stated, “Ten prosperous years of Vision 2030 have seen the performance indicators of the Vision’s programs and strategies achieve 93% of their targets, thanks to God and then to the performance and competence of Saudi men and women, who were the source of every success. Non-oil exports grew by 155% compared to 2016, reflecting the growing presence of products from this sector. The private sector’s contribution to the economy rose to 51%, and the transport and logistics system demonstrated its ability to handle changes in supply chains and maintain the smooth flow of goods and services.”
He continued, “The Kingdom ranks globally first in the Digital Readiness Index, the Telecommunications and Technology Development Index, and the Cybersecurity Index, and second in the Digital Government Maturity Index. It has also entered the list of the ten most attractive countries for mining investment. We have designated 2026 as the ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence,’ affirming our commitment to ensuring the Kingdom leads globally in developing AI applications and solutions, leveraging them to increase productivity, improve service quality, and train Saudi talent.”
He said, “The events currently unfolding in the region prove that long-term planning does not mean stagnation, but rather the ability to adapt to changes. Amid the successive transformations the world is witnessing, the importance of reforms that have diversified the economy and enhanced the Kingdom’s capacity to manage crises becomes evident. These reforms have succeeded in turning threats into opportunities to strengthen the Kingdom’s position and continue its developmental priorities efficiently and sustainably. The current circumstances are a testament to the resilience of the national economy, the maturity of its institutions’ capabilities, the strength of state entities’ resources, and its financial sustainability.
“The essence of the Kingdom’s economic policies is the development of national capabilities and potential, empowering promising sectors, attracting local and foreign investments, and directing resources toward areas with the highest economic and social impact. This preserves the ability to finance developmental priorities and ensures the sustainability of achievements for future generations.
“The Kingdom possesses highly efficient human and military capabilities capable, by God’s will, of fully confronting and deterring threats, regardless of their sources. The attacks targeting all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states confirm that Gulf security and stability are indivisible. We work with our brothers to safeguard Gulf security, pursue strategic cooperation and economic integration, and continue implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to enhance joint efforts that achieve the Council’s objectives and meet the aspirations of its citizens.”
