Rubio: The U.S. Will Honor Its Commitments Under the Defense Pact With Saudi Arabia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will honor its commitments under the defense pact with Saudi Arabia. He defended Washington’s decision to sign the agreement, which has faced criticism and concern at home.

“When a friend is at war and you sign a defense pact to keep them [safe], those commitments are expected to be honored,” Rubio said, referring to the defense pact with Riyadh.

Rubio’s statement comes as the U.S.–Iran war continues and amid broad regional tensions, in which Saudi Arabia is one of Washington’s key allies in the Middle East.

Rubio also said that Saudi Arabia may have been hit by Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq — militias that, according to him, have carried out attacks against American targets.

Source: Al Jazeera