RIYADH: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington remains committed to its partners in Gulf at a time of fast-shifting regional alliances, Arab media reported on Wednesday.
The US Secretary of State spoke at a GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh following the meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
He said, “Washington is in this region to say we remain deeply invested in partnering with all of you”. The US Secretary of State added, “The GCC is the key to our vision for a Middle East that is more secure, stable, and prosperous.”
Arab News reported that key regional matters were on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, Sudan, Syria and the Palestinian territories. Blinken told the meeting, “Together, we are determined to find a political settlement in Syria that maintains its sovereignty, unity and meets the aspirations of its citizens,” the US top diplomat said.
The US State Department said that Blinken and Prince Faisal expressed resolve to continue to work jointly to counter-terrorism, support the peace process, and promote stability, de-escalation, security, and integration in the Arab world. The two leaders also promised to continue their cooperation to end the violence in Sudan.”
The US Secretary of State arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Their meeting, which lasted more than 100 minutes, discussed the Kingdom’s support for US evacuations from crisis-hit Sudan. Blinken said that they discussed their shared priorities, including countering terrorism via the Global Coalition against Daesh.
