RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Council of Defense Ministers of the countries of the Islamic Military Coalition Against Terrorism (CIMCT), led the second meeting of the council in Riyadh.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting, themed ‘The fight against terrorism is a common responsibility,’ saw the participation of Defense Ministers from member and supporting states. The gathering aimed to reinforce and build upon the foundation laid during the coalition’s inaugural meeting.
In his opening remarks, Prince Khalid conveyed greetings from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressing wishes for a successful deliberation. He underscored the coalition’s significant role in combating terrorism and extremism, which pose threats to regional and international security and stability. The Minister emphasized the need for collective efforts, integration, and partnership among coalition members, global nations, and international organizations.
Highlighting a unified stance, Prince Khalid called for condemnation of Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, echoing the resolutions of the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023. He advocated for the immediate cessation of these aggressions.
Further, Prince Khalid announced Saudi Arabia’s substantial financial contribution to the Coalition’s Fund for Financing Initiatives, amounting to one hundred million riyals. This is in addition to the kingdom’s support for 46 training programs across the coalition’s four operational domains: ideological, media, counter-terrorist financing, and military. These efforts aim to bolster the implementation of the coalition’s initiatives among member states.
Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Mughidi, Secretary General of the IMCTC, provided an overview of the coalition’s work methodology, donor initiatives, and future implementation plans. The meeting concluded with a final declaration affirming member states’ unified position against Israeli aggression towards Palestinians and their commitment to enhancing cooperation, coordination, and unified efforts to combat terrorism. The declaration stressed the importance of collective action and strategic planning in confronting terrorism in all its forms.
The Defense Ministers reviewed the coalition’s annual and operational financial reports for 2023, acknowledging the contributions exceeding one billion and 181 million riyals provided by the Saudi government since the coalition’s inception. The meeting agreed to establish a fund to finance strategic anti-terrorism initiatives, supported by financial contributions from member and supporting states, as well as international organizations.
In conclusion, the ministers expressed gratitude towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its foundational and ongoing support of the coalition, emphasizing the importance of continued collaborative efforts to achieve the coalition’s objectives in the global fight against terrorism. They also welcomed the participation of additional countries interested in joining the coalition’s efforts in the future.