RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday held talks with visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh and discussed the regional situation and efforts to address international developments.
Prince Faisal received Marco Rubio at the ministry’s headquarters, the Saudi Gazette reported.
During the meeting, they reviewed regional and international developments and the efforts made to address them. They also discussed bilateral ties and ways to further enhance them in a way that serves the interests of the two countries.
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar, Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Prince Misaab Al-Farhan, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati also attended the meeting.
Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, marking his first official visit to Riyadh, where he is expected to meet Saudi leaders, including Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
The US top diplomat is heading a delegation to Saudi Arabia to set the stage for direct talks between US and Russian officials in the coming days, aiming to find a resolution to the Moscow-Ukraine war.
This visit comes after a phone call last week between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they agreed to have their respective teams begin negotiations immediately.
While President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict in a single day if re-elected, Rubio emphasised that resolving such a prolonged and complex war “will not be easy.”
Earlier Rubio visited Israel where he met with senior officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
