Jeddah, 7 June 2023 (TDI): U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engages in a candid dialogue with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday morning in Jeddah, covering a diverse array of bilateral matters.
Strained Relations
Amidst strained relations between the two nations and growing tensions on all policy matters, including regional security matters, oil prices, Iran policy, and human rights concerns, the US top diplomat arrived in Jeddah late on Tuesday for a highly anticipated visit.
The visit of Blinken comes shortly after Saudi Arabia announced its intentions to limit oil production and its availability in the international markets.
This decision was made by the Kingdom following an agreement between Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries of the OPEC+ group to control the amount of oil available in the market and ultimately seek price manipulation.
Bilateral interests and cooperation
The discussions were sharply focused on restraining the mistrust and boosting confidence and trust between the two nations.
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After their meeting, Antony Blinken and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a joint commitment to “advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond,” according to a statement made by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
They also showed their willingness to peacefully resolve the Yemen conflict through mutual collaboration. The statement by the US State Department added that The US appreciated the Kingdom’s efforts in:
“the UN-led peace efforts in Yemen that have enabled over a year of de-escalation and created the best opportunity for peace since the war began.”
US secretary praised the Kingdom for taking effective measures against terrorism and for hosting the upcoming meeting of the Coalition to defeat ISIS. He also acknowledged the Kingdom’s help in evacuating the US nationals from Sudan.
The discussions on deepening economic cooperation, especially in the fields of clean energy and technology-related matters. The Secretary emphasized that their bilateral relations are strengthened by progress on human rights.
