US Defense Secretary: Saudi Arabia is a Strategic Partner

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visits National Guard troops deployed at the US Capitol and its perimeter, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, Pool)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that Saudi Arabia is "a strategic partner in the region.”

“My focus is to defend this country and protect our interest,” Austin told ABC's "This Week" program.

"Saudi is from my perspective a strategic partner in the region. And certainly we have security commitments in that area.”

“It’s necessary to work together to make sure that we achieve our goals and objectives,” he added.