The Kingdom and Spain sign an agreement exempting diplomatic passports from visa requirements

His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the Spanish capital, Madrid, today, where he met with the Spanish , José Manuel Álvarez Bueno.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to strengthen relations between the two countries and elevate them to the level of a strategic partnership, as well as to advance the deep and growing bilateral relations based on historical ties and bonds of friendship that unite the leadership of the two kingdoms and their friendly peoples.

Strategic partnership

The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council.
The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the level and development of bilateral relations, and welcomed the progress achieved in areas of cooperation, particularly those of common priority, including security, defense, trade, investment, and culture, as well as multilateral cooperation. They also expressed their commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership and the future opportunities it offers.

Visa exemption

During the visit, an agreement was also signed on the mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports.
The two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments, expressing their concern regarding the escalating tensions in the region. They emphasized the importance of adhering to international law, the necessity of consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, and the importance of prioritizing dialogue and diplomatic solutions to contribute to regional and international security and stability.

Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

Both sides reiterated their call for restraint and wisdom, and for ensuring the security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Spanish side reaffirmed its government's solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the face of the blatant attacks they have suffered. It also commended the balanced and responsible approach adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its consistent calls for de-escalation and the prioritization of diplomatic solutions.
The Saudi side, in turn, expressed its appreciation for the Kingdom of Spain's position calling for de-escalation in the Middle East, its condemnation of the Iranian attacks on the GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and Spain's stance on the Palestinian issue and its efforts to support the implementation of the two-state solution.