Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh. The meeting emphasized the long-standing relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, marking the 80th anniversary of a historic meeting between President Franklin Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz aboard the USS Quincy.

During the discussions, Secretary Rubio expressed interest in enhancing economic and defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties further. Both parties committed to reinforcing their partnership.

A significant focus of the meeting was on regional security issues. Secretary Rubio and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated their commitment to implementing a ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens. They also discussed arrangements for Gaza that would contribute to regional stability.

Additionally, they explored ways to advance shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, and other areas within the region. This included topics such as Red Sea security and maintaining freedom of navigation.