US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed hope for expanding economic and defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from State Department Press Secretary Tammy Bruce.
On February 17, Rubio met in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
"The Secretary of State expressed hope for expanding economic and defense cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, as well as reaffirmed the US commitment to strengthening bilateral partnership," the statement read.
Rubio and the Crown Prince also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens. Additionally, the Secretary of State emphasized the importance of agreements on Gaza that contribute to regional security.
Furthermore, the two sides discussed advancing shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, and the broader region, including security in the Red Sea and ensuring freedom of navigation, according to the press release.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: marco vannozzi/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS