Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) has decided to skip next week's Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, according to a familiar source. The 39-year-old monarch, who suffers from a chronic ear canal condition, is reportedly concerned that the 14-hour flight from Riyadh to Brazil could worsen his symptoms.

The source revealed that MBS has experienced prolonged ear irritation and obstruction following long-distance flights, leading to last-minute cancellations of international trips, including a planned state visit to Japan earlier this year due to his 88-year-old father, King Salman, receiving treatment for lung inflammation.

A Saudi government spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

MBS, who maintains close ties with former US President Donald Trump, was among the first world leaders to congratulate him on his election victory earlier this month. Additionally, the Saudi king shares a strong relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both countries—major oil producers—collaborating through the OPEC+ alliance to regulate global oil supply.

Arab, Muslim leaders shift regional stances amid US admin change

As Donald Trump fine-tunes his Middle East policy ahead of his second presidential term, Arab and Muslim countries united in the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit to propose a new roadmap for peace against the backdrop of the Biden administration's unconditional support to "Israel," Le Monde reported Tuesday.

On Monday in Riyadh, a joint declaration was made by member states of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The roadmap also reiterated the "two-state solution" as central to restoring regional stability.

Frustrated by the lack of influence over US policy, particularly the Biden administration's inability to constrain its Israeli ally amid the ongoing genocide, Arab and Muslim leaders have spoken out. The genocide has already led to more than 43,000 martyrs in Gaza and over 3,200 in Lebanon, with the risk of broader regional escalation with Iran.

A year after the first summit under Saudi leadership, which ended in division, the new initiative calls for an arms embargo on the Israeli occupation and a suspension of its membership in the United Nations General Assembly.

The statement condemns the occupation's military actions in Gaza, its expansion into Lebanon, and its violations of the sovereignty of Iraq, Syria, and Iran. It also criticizes the international community's inaction and calls for urgent humanitarian intervention to end the suffering caused by the Israeli siege and collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population.

In his speech, the Saudi Crown Prince denounced the occupation's actions, condemning the genocide in Gaza and its heavy toll on Palestinian civilians, especially women and children. MBS emphasized that the Saudi position toward the Israeli occupation had hardened, and reiterated the Kingdom's longstanding demand for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East al-Quds as its capital.

MBS voiced strong support for Iran, calling for international action to ensure the Israeli occupation respects Iran's sovereignty and refrains from further aggression. However, he condemned Iran's support for Resistance movements like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar Allah.