Saudi Crown Prince and US Security Adviser Hold Key Talks on Strategic Agreements
Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to discuss crucial strategic agreements between their countries, as reported by Saudi media on Sunday. These talks are part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to persuade Riyadh to formally recognize Israel, a goal complicated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Prince Mohammed, who is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, and Sullivan focused on a “semi-final” draft of the strategic agreements. These agreements aim to bolster the relationship between the kingdom and the United States, with finalization reportedly imminent.
Focus Keyword: Saudi
The discussions also addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, specifically the current situation in Gaza and the importance of halting the ongoing war to allow humanitarian aid access. Finding a path towards a two-state solution was a significant point of the dialogue, reflecting the longstanding international push for peace in the region.
Sullivan’s itinerary includes a visit to Israel later on Sunday to further discuss the conflict with Israeli officials, according to the White House. This visit highlights the Biden administration’s commitment to resolving the tensions in Gaza and advancing the broader Middle Eastern peace process.
The Biden administration has been negotiating for a deal where Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel in return for enhanced security cooperation with the United States, Saudi Arabia’s primary security ally. These negotiations have also involved Saudi requests for assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program, showcasing the kingdom’s strategic ambitions.
In a September interview with Fox News, Prince Mohammed expressed optimism about the progress towards normalizing ties with Israel, indicating that an agreement was becoming increasingly likely. However, the conflict that erupted following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel has severely strained these efforts. This attack resulted in over 1,170 Israeli casualties, mostly civilians, and subsequent Israeli military actions in Gaza have led to over 35,386 Palestinian deaths, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
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Since the outbreak of the conflict, Saudi officials have maintained that any normalization of relations with Israel must be accompanied by significant steps towards recognizing a Palestinian state, a stance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has historically opposed.
The uncertainty around whether Riyadh and Washington will finalize their strategic agreements persists, primarily because Saudi-Israeli normalization has not yet been achieved. Analysts suggest that despite the setbacks, high-level discussions between Saudi Arabia and the United States continue, indicating the potential for future agreements.
During US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Riyadh in April, he and his Saudi Prince counterpart suggested that a final agreement on the US-Saudi component of the deal was nearing completion. This ongoing dialogue underscores the complex and evolving nature of Middle Eastern diplomacy, with Saudi Arabia playing a pivotal role in the region’s future stability and peace.
