Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to visit Washington on Monday for meetings with senior Biden administration officials, according to a report in Axios which cited three sources.
Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several senators, according to the Axios report.
The visit has been scheduled for some time, the sources told Axios, but it would come as Israel on Saturday unleashed the second phase of the Gaza war as its forces pressed ground operations against Hamas militants.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman spoke by phone on Tuesday and discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict widening.
“President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke today with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohamed bin Salman about the situation in the Middle East region. The President affirmed that the United States fully supports the defense of U.S. partners facing terrorist threats, whether from state or non-state actors,” the White House said in a readout of the call.
“He discussed ongoing diplomatic and military efforts to deter state and non-state actors from widening the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The two leaders agreed on pursuing broader diplomatic efforts to maintain stability across the region and prevent the conflict from expanding. They welcomed the delivery of humanitarian assistance from Egypt into Gaza and recognized that much more is needed for civilians to have sustained access to food, water, and medical assistance.”
Saudi Arabia, for its part, condemned the ongoing ground invasion of Israel. “Any ground operation by Israel would threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians and result in inhumane dangers,” the statement said.
