Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Blinken calls Saudi FM hours after Arab foreign minister summit in Israel

Hours after attending a summit in Israel with foreign ministers from four Arab states on Monday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called another foreign minister, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

During the call, Blinken and Faisal “discussed the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program and building strong international support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while holding President Putin accountable for his unprovoked and unlawful war,” the statement said in a readout of the call.

Blinken also condemned the recent Houthi terror attack on Saudi Arabia and discussed a UN proposal for a Ramadan truce in Yemen, as well as broader efforts to reach a comprehensive peace in the conflict.

“The Secretary reiterated the US commitment to bolstering Saudi Arabia’s defenses against threats in the region and emphasized the importance of protecting civilians in Yemen,” the State Department said.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the two men discussed strategic relations and ways to enhance them in the interest of both countries. READ MORE