Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held the third Saudi–Japan Strategic Dialogue in Riyadh, underscoring more than six decades of steadily expanding cooperation across political, economic and security domains.
Bilateral relations have been guided by shared principles enshrined in agreements, regular consultations and high-level visits, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening ties. Trade between the two countries grew 38% from 2016 to 2024, reaching 138 billion rials ($36.8 billion), making Japan the Kingdom’s third-largest trading partner, according to official Saudi figures.
In his opening remarks, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Saudi Arabia places great importance on its long-standing relationship with Japan, rooted in trust and mutual respect. He described Tokyo as a key economic partner and expressed Riyadh’s eagerness to build on existing opportunities. “We see promising opportunities to expand cooperation in investment, energy, resources, supply chains, defense and technology, and to exchange expertise and capabilities, in ways that support our priorities and achieve our shared goals,” he said.
The minister added that the Kingdom will remain a reliable partner for Japan across multiple sectors, including energy, and praised Japanese initiatives that bolster economic resilience and help stabilize global energy and trade markets.
Maritime security emerged as a central shared priority. Prince Faisal stressed the need to safeguard freedom of navigation in all international waterways under international law, calling for the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and all sea lanes to remain open, safe and free from threats.
On X, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Saudi Arabia occupies a special place in Japan’s diplomacy, citing its pivotal role in efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran, as well as its growing regional and global influence, particularly in the Muslim world and the Global South.
Motegi affirmed Japan’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and said Tokyo would work with Oman, which borders the Strait of Hormuz, to ensure freedom and security of navigation, reiterating Japan’s position directly.
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