Riyadh, Feb 18, (V7N) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Monday to discuss key regional issues, including the situation in Gaza. Rubio is on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, where he has been navigating complex geopolitical issues, including President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for resettling Palestinian refugees from Gaza into other Arab nations. The proposal also involves the United States leading efforts to rebuild Gaza, which has been devastated by ongoing conflict.

In a readout of the meeting, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce revealed that Rubio emphasized the need for a plan for Gaza that would enhance regional security. The U.S. Secretary of State underscored that any arrangement for Gaza must contribute to broader stability in the region, a sentiment shared by the Saudi Crown Prince during their discussion.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their support for the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that was brokered last month, which has temporarily halted the violence between the two sides. The ceasefire remains a critical element of U.S. foreign policy in the region, as efforts continue to achieve a lasting peace agreement.

Beyond the Gaza issue, Rubio and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed several other critical regional concerns, including the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Lebanon, as well as the security situation in the Red Sea. These discussions reflect the importance of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. working together to address broader Middle Eastern instability.

According to reports from Saudi state news agency SPA, both parties agreed on the necessity of achieving long-term security and stability in the region. The Crown Prince and Rubio also explored opportunities for deeper cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, particularly in regard to counterterrorism and regional peacekeeping efforts.

Rubio's visit, which began earlier in the day in Israel, marks his first diplomatic trip to the Middle East as the U.S. Secretary of State. In Israel, Rubio discussed U.S.-Israel relations and regional security, and his trip to Saudi Arabia is part of a broader diplomatic initiative to strengthen ties with key Middle Eastern allies.

This visit also comes ahead of a crucial meeting between U.S. officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The anticipated talks will focus on finding a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine and efforts to restore broader diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia. However, neither the U.S. nor Saudi sides mentioned the Ukraine conflict in their statements following the meeting, indicating that discussions on Gaza and Middle Eastern security were the primary focus of Rubio's visit to Riyadh.

As Secretary Rubio's diplomatic tour continues, the U.S. seeks to navigate complex regional dynamics, promote peace efforts, and reinforce strategic alliances in the Middle East.

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