Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on August 18, 2024, as confirmed by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel.
During the call, Secretary Blinken discussed ongoing efforts to prevent regional escalation and finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. He expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s role in facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza. The conversation also addressed shared concerns regarding Houthi actions, particularly the recent seizure of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a.
Additionally, Secretary Blinken acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s contributions as co-host of talks in Switzerland aimed at implementing the Jeddah Declaration and achieving a cessation of hostilities in Sudan. He emphasized the importance of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces participating in negotiations.
