Jeddah: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed regional and bilateral matters with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The senior US ambassador arrived in KSA late Tuesday for a three-day official visit. Amid deteriorating relations over Iran policy and regional security.
“They had an open, candid discussion that covered the full range of regional and bilateral issues,” the US official.
The US State Department stated Blinken thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting the Daesh/Ministerial. As well as emphasized cooperation terrorism-fighting efforts after the meeting.
“Moreover, The two affirmed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond. Including through a comprehensive political agreement to achieve peace, prosperity, and security in Yemen,” the statement said.
Moreover, Human rights development strengthens bilateral partnerships, the US secretary of state added.
Blinken and the Saudi crown prince discussed expanding economic collaboration, particularly in clean energy and technology. “The Secretary also thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s support evacuating hundreds of US citizens from Sudan, and for the Kingdom’s ongoing partnership in diplomatic negotiations to stop the fighting,” the statement said.
Blinken’s visit seeks to strengthen ties with longtime ally Saudi Arabia, which has grown closer to Washington’s foes.
The visit will also discuss fighting Daesh and Arab-Israeli ties.
Saudi Arabia’s support for US evacuations from Sudan, Yemen’s political dialogue, and Israel’s normalisation were discussed in the 100-minute discussion.
Blinken posted on social media that the two men discussed “our shared priorities, including countering terrorism through the D-ISIS Coalition, achieving peace in Yemen, and deepening economic and scientific cooperation.”
Saudi Arabia has mended relations with Tehran ally Syria and increased its peace efforts in Yemen, where it has led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.
