RIYADH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held discussions on Gaza during a meeting, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed.
“The Secretary emphasized the importance of a framework for Gaza that enhances regional security,” Bruce stated in a readout of the meeting between Rubio and the crown prince.
Rubio is visiting the Middle East following President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal, which angered the Arab world. The proposal suggested expelling Palestinian residents from Gaza to other Arab nations and placing the enclave under US-led reconstruction and occupation.
During the meeting, Rubio and the crown prince reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire reached last month between Israel and Hamas. They also discussed broader issues, including Syria, Lebanon, and the Red Sea, Bruce added.
Additionally, the Secretary highlighted the 80th anniversary of the 1945 meeting between then-President Franklin Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdulaziz aboard the USS Quincy, reiterating a commitment to strengthening US-Saudi economic and defense ties.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA reported that the meeting covered regional and global developments, as well as efforts to promote security and stability.
Rubio, on his first visit to the region as Secretary of State, arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day after a stop in Israel. His trip includes a visit to the United Arab Emirates as part of his broader regional tour.
The visit also precedes an anticipated meeting in Saudi Arabia between US officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks are expected to focus on ending the war in Ukraine and improving broader Russia-US relations.
