00:00You've been in office since 2024, and as European Council President, you represent the EU's 27 leaders.
00:06A warm welcome to Saudi Arabia.
00:08I gather this is your first visit to the kingdom in your capacity as president, and indeed at all.
00:15And you've been meeting the Saudi leadership.
00:17And I'd like to ask you, first of all, what message do you bring with you?
00:20Thank you for this interview.
00:22I brought mainly three messages.
00:26First of all, solidarity and gratitude.
00:29Solidarity for the crisis we are leaving in the region.
00:32Gratitude, by the way, that the kingdom protects our citizens during this process.
00:38Second main important message.
00:40The European Union and their member states are keen to contribute to solve this crisis.
00:49Some member states are giving military support to defend the kingdom.
00:53We are keen to participate with our expertise in the negotiations to address the key issue of the nuclear capacity.
01:04We are keen to participate in the coalition of the willing to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait
01:11of Orbus.
01:12And as said, we want to develop.
01:17And I think it's more important than ever to strengthen the relationship between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation
01:24Council,
01:25but also our bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
01:30We are trying to negotiate three main issues, the visa liberalization, the free trade agreement, the strategic partnership.
01:40And I came to say we want to pursue our negotiations and to conclude as soon as possible.
01:47Okay, and I'd like to ask you how you see that relationship between Riyadh and Brussels evolving.
01:54I think it's clear that now the world of today is a multipolar one.
02:02And in this multipolar world, it's very important that the different regions of the world achieve to cooperate for security
02:12and prosperity.
02:13And the Gulf region is a key region for us, is in the transition, is a bridge between Europe and
02:22Asia, is a strategic partner on energy,
02:26is a strategic partner for producing stability in the world.
02:32And we want to strengthen our relationship.
02:35We had a very good summit two years ago.
02:38Normally, we will have here in the Saudi Arabia this year a second summit.
02:45And do you want to develop our relationship?
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