Saudi Arabia Joins CICA as Observer State
Saudi Arabia becomes the Tenth Observer State to Join Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia
On December 26, Saudi Arabia officially joined the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) as its tenth observer state, as reported by the CICA’s press service. The decision to grant observer status to Saudi Arabia was made during the CICA Ministerial Council following the pre-approval of the country’s application at the CICA Senior Officials Committee meeting on December 12.
This new development marks a significant step in expanding the geographical reach of the pan-continental organization dedicated to fostering peace and security in Asia. Along with Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, another Gulf State, Saudi Arabia is expected to increase the representation of this sub-region in CICA and broaden and enrich cooperation across Asia.
Saudi Arabia is known for promoting multilateralism in Asia and the rest of the world, participating in various international organizations, including the League of Arab States, a CICA observer organization, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The country’s application to become a CICA observer state underscores the significance of collective efforts in addressing global and regional challenges and reflects the shared aspiration within the region for a more interconnected international community.
Over the last three years, the CICA has experienced notable growth, with Kuwait becoming a member in 2022, Turkmenistan achieving observer status in 2021, and the Eurasian Economic Union joining as a partner organization in 2022.
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the CICA as an observer state is expected to contribute to the organization’s overall goal of promoting cooperation and mutual trust in Asia, furthering its mission of building a more peaceful and stable continent.
