Saudi Crown Prince Receives Blinken in AlUla

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Blinken in AlUla

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Blinken in AlUla. (AP)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in AlUla on Monday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a tour of the Middle East amid the Israeli war on Gaza. 

They reviewed bilateral relations and ways to boost cooperation to the benefit of their countries. They exchanged views on regional and international developments and efforts exerted to achieve security and stability, with focus on Gaza and its surroundings. 

Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the importance of stopping military operations, intensifying humanitarian action, and working to create conditions for restoring stability and for a peace process that ensures that the Palestinian people gain their legitimate rights and achieve a just and lasting peace. 

Present at the meeting were Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdelaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and Minister of State and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban. 

US Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Ratney and his accompanying delegation attended the meeting. 

Blinken had arrived in AlUla earlier on Monday where he was welcomed by FM Prince Faisal. 

He also met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in AlUla for talks on efforts to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.  

Blinken has so far visited Türkiye, Greece, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on his tour. He later headed to Israel. 



Trump Says May Visit Saudi Arabia Next Month

US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
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Trump Says May Visit Saudi Arabia Next Month

US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump takes part in a signing of an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2025. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to visit Saudi Arabia as early as May in what will be the first foreign trip of his second term, with stops also planned in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"It could be next month, maybe a little later," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Four sources briefed on the matter said mid-May was being looked at as the timing for the trip. Trump made Saudi Arabia and Israel the initial stops on his inaugural foreign trip during his first term in 2017.

Topics likely to be discussed include Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza, one source said.

Saudi Arabia has played a prominent role in US foreign policy, including hosting US ceasefire talks with Russia and Ukraine.

"An opportunity for international travel for the president is something that is being looked at. We don’t yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," a White House official said ahead of Trump's remarks.