U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This forms part of the US diplomat’s sixth tour of the Middle East since the conflict between Israel and Hamas flared up in October last year.
Blinken and the Crown Prince held discussions on Thursday, on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia, in their efforts to achieve peace and security in the Middle East region focusing on the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza tied to the release of hostages. Emphasis was also placed on the need for an end to Houthi attacks which impact freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Yemen peace process.
During this meeting, the US Secretary of State emphasised the importance of addressing the growing humanitarian needs in the Gaza region. He reiterated the United States’ commitment to achieving an end to the crisis in Gaza and the establishment of a future Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel.
After his meeting in Jeddah, Blinken travelled to Cairo where he met with top Egyptian officials.
