US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in Washington to discuss efforts to defuse international crises. The focus of the meeting was on coordinated peace initiatives, with Rubio thanking Saudi Arabia for its efforts to promote peace between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting also discussed ways to better coordinate efforts to resolve regional crises, including in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Yemen and Sudan. The two officials also discussed ways to promote global peace and stability, exchanging views and discussing current diplomatic initiatives.
In other developments, the US Secretary of State will also meet with the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Finland in Washington. The Uzbek minister will discuss security and stability in Central Asia, while the Finnish minister will focus on the Ukraine conflict, European security and closer economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas criticized the US for not taking the EU seriously enough, despite numerous visits to Washington. Rubio had previously stated that the US sees the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war against Russia, with the goal of ending the war under President Trump’s leadership. This stance contrasts with the Biden administration’s earlier, more supportive approach to Ukraine.
Overall, the meetings reflect the importance of diplomatic efforts to resolve international crises and promote global peace and stability.