Saudi Arabia Summons Ambassador in Protest Against German Foreign Minister's Remarks

After Sigmar Gabriel, the German Foreign Minister, stated that Saad Hariri was being held against his will in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia announced that it has summoned its ambassador in Berlin in protest of these comments. On Thursday, November 16, during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Gebran Bassil, Gabriel warned of escalating tensions in the Middle East, stating that "Germany stands firmly with Lebanon." He also added that "creating another unstable region is the last thing the people of the Middle East need right now." Gabriel expressed that Hariri was in Saudi Arabia against his will and was not allowed to leave. These comments were met with a response from Hariri, who tweeted: "The claim that I am being held against my will in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave is nothing but a lie. I am on my way to the airport, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel." However, according to a Reuters report, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it would submit a note of protest to the German ambassador in Riyadh in response to what it called Gabriel's "baseless" remarks, and has also summoned its own ambassador for consultations. In this context, the Saudi state news agency, citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry, described such remarks as "a source of surprise and dissatisfaction for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and labeled them as "futile and based on incorrect information." The Saudi Foreign Ministry also emphasized that the German Foreign Minister's comments "do not contribute to stability in the region." Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, resigned from his position two weeks ago during a visit to Saudi Arabia and simultaneously accused Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, of causing chaos in the region. Hariri's sudden resignation and continued stay in Saudi Arabia raised concerns about Lebanon's stability, prompting the Lebanese President to announce that he would not accept Hariri's resignation until he returns to Lebanon. Hariri traveled to France after leaving Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with reports indicating his decision to return to Lebanon on Wednesday, coinciding with the country's Independence Day.