Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah on Wednesday to discuss developments in Gaza and its surroundings.
During the meeting, they discussed efforts to halt military operations in Gaza and deal with their security and humanitarian repercussions, along with updates on regional and international situations of mutual interest. They also reviewed bilateral relations and areas of cooperation, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Earlier today, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that Minister Faisal bin Farhan had discussed with his American counterpart the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian city of Rafah, emphasizing the importance of an immediate ceasefire.
The Ministry’s statement also mentioned the Saudi minister’s discussion with Blinken on exerting all efforts to ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza. The US State Department, in its statement, confirmed Blinken’s emphasis on “the importance of close coordination with regional and international partners to find a solution to the conflict in Gaza and prepare for the post-conflict phase.” Blinken affirmed “the US commitment to achieving sustainable peace by establishing an independent Palestinian state while providing security guarantees to Israel.”
Both sides also discussed the importance of ending conflicts in both Sudan and Yemen. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of his sixth tour of the Middle East to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza amid increasing tension in Washington’s relationship with its ally Israel. After concluding his visit to the Kingdom, Blinken is scheduled to visit Cairo tomorrow before heading to Israel on Friday.
The US State Department did not announce the planned visit to Israel until after Blinken’s arrival in Saudi Arabia. The department did not immediately clarify the reasons for omitting Israel from the tour schedule.
