The United States and Saudi Arabia continue to work together bilaterally and through several international fora, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Gulf Cooperation Council, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a recent visit to the region.
The recently concluded Global Coalition to Counter ISIS ministerial focused on several key areas of need, said Secretary Blinken:
“Those include stabilizing areas liberated from ISIS so that the group can’t exploit poor security, economic, or humanitarian conditions that leave people desperate; and also . . . repatriating foreign terrorist fighters and their families from al-Hol and other displaced persons camps. We’re also working to keep pace with evolving threats, including ISIS’s expanding efforts across sub-Saharan Africa and ISIS-Khorasan.”
The United States and Saudi Arabia are working together to address other challenges in the region, including Yemen, noted Secretary Blinken:
“In Yemen, when President Biden took office, war was raging. The country was experiencing arguably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Now we’re working intensively with Saudi Arabia and other partners to further consolidate what has been a 14-month long truce that we helped to achieve.”
“The United States and Saudi Arabia, together with the [Gulf Cooperation Council], are also focused on Iran’s . . . support for terrorism and violent militia groups, the seizure of tankers transiting international waters, and nuclear escalation,” said Secretary Blinken:
“The United States continues to believe that diplomacy, backed by economic pressure, by deterrence, and by strong defense cooperation, is the best way to counter these dangerous actions. We support efforts by Saudi Arabia to de-escalate tension and stabilize relations.”
The United States and Saudi Arabia have been leading a diplomatic campaign to get both sides in Sudan to agree to a ceasefire and to allow humanitarian assistance to reach the people of Sudan.
Universal rights and freedoms remain a core priority for the United States. “And the U.S.-Saudi partnership can be deepened by progress on human rights,” said Secretary Blinken. “That’s why we strongly welcome and support historic steps to increase women’s participation in public life in the workforce, to expand interfaith tolerance, among other reforms in the country’s ambitious modernization agenda.”
The United States is committed to deepening its partnership with Saudi Arabia and the region.
