Antony Blinken meets Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Saudi Arabia

Image credit: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, met with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on June 7.

During the meeting, the Crown Prince and Blinken, “reviewed bilateral relations and aspects of cooperation in various fields and ways to enhance them”, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The meeting was attended by Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US; Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Dr Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Advisor, along with several US officials.

Met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss our shared priorities, including countering terrorism through the D-ISIS Coalition, achieving peace in Yemen, and deepening economic and scientific cooperation. pic.twitter.com/nmNJqgBMuG

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 7, 2023

Blinken’s agenda in Saudi Arabia

The US Embassy in Riyadh said the current state of turmoil in Sudan was high on the agenda for the meeting.

A statement by the U.S. State Department said, “The Secretary thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s support in evacuating hundreds of U.S. citizens from Sudan, and for the kingdom’s ongoing partnership in diplomatic negotiations to stop the fighting there.”

The statement added the US acknowledges Saudi Arabia’s efforts in “the UN-led peace efforts in Yemen that have enabled over a year of de-escalation and created the best opportunity for peace since the war began.”

“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”, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

.@SecBlinken has arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for meetings with our Saudi and regional partners. Together, we will continue our urgent work on Sudan as we seek to stop the fighting and secure unhindered humanitarian access. pic.twitter.com/kfUWKR5PUO

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) June 6, 2023

Miller added, “The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed deepening economic cooperation, especially in the clean energy and technology fields.”

The visit by the US State Secretary builds on President Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022. The top US diplomat is expected to be in the country for two days. In the past three years, the United States has completed new diplomatic facilities in Jeddah and Dhahran, and will launch the construction of a new embassy in Riyadh.