Saudi foreign minister meets U.S. senators in Washington on defence cooperation

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met on Wednesday in Washington with members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, as Al Jazeera reports. The meeting was also attended by Saudi Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi, as well as U.S. senators Joni Ernst and Dan Sullivan.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the talks focused on “strategic ties and joint cooperation in several areas, particularly in the defence and security sectors”. The meeting follows the talks the prince held with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on the latest regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation.

The intensified diplomacy comes at a critical moment: Saudi Arabia has faced a wave of missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, which have hit the kingdom’s energy infrastructure and military bases, while Riyadh has sought international support for its security.

At the same time, Qatar continues its mediation diplomacy aimed at ending the seven-month war between Iran and the United States, while President Trump again predicted a swift surrender by Iran, as Reuters reports.