Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, said on Monday the Kingdom has much to discuss with the United States on the level of bilateral ties, the region and in several areas.
He made his remarks as he received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh on the eve of talks on Ukraine.
He told Rubio that “we would be very happy to work with you and President Donald Trump and his administration to achieve the interests of Saudi Arabia, the US and several countries around the world.”
Crown Prince Mohammed and Rubio discussed bilateral relations between their countries and means to develop them in various fields.
They tackled regional and international developments, exchanged views over them and means to achieve security and stability.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, and Secretary to the Crown Prince Dr. Bandar bin Obaid Al-Rasheed.
On the US side, the meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, US Chargé d'Affaires Alison Dilworth, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Peek, Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State Michael Needham, Director of Policy Planning Michael Anton, and a number of officials.
Rubio had arrived in Riyadh on Monday to prepare for the talks and plan the anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump and Putin have agreed to kick of peace talks about Ukraine that will be attended by Crown Prince Mohammed.
Saudi and American officials will discuss bilateral relations and regional cooperation, as well as efforts to push forward peace and stability in the region.
The State Department had said Rubio’s visit to the region will “promote US interests in advancing regional cooperation, stability, and peace.”
“The trip will center on freeing American and all other hostages from Hamas captivity, advancing to Phase II of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and countering the destabilizing activities of the Iranian regime and its proxies,” it said in a statement.
