 "U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters")
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Monday to discuss preparations for Gaza, according to State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce.
Rubio is visiting the Middle East after President Donald Trump enraged the Arab world with a plan to transfer Palestinian inhabitants of the war-torn strip in other Arab countries while the US leads restoration of the enclave.
“The Secretary underscored the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of the meeting between Rubio and the crown prince.
The two also reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire agreed last month between Israel and Hamas and discussed Syria, Lebanon and the Red Sea, Bruce said.
Saudi state news agency SPA said they discussed regional and global developments and efforts to achieve security and stability.
Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day from Israel where he began his first visit to the region as the top U.S. diplomat.
Rubio’s previously planned visit comes ahead of an anticipated meeting between U.S. officials with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that is set to focus on ending the war in Ukraine and restoring broader Russia-U.S. ties.
Neither side’s statement mentioned discussions about Ukraine.