Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, and US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, held a crucial meeting at the White House on Monday. Their discussions revolved around the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the current security conditions in Yemen.
Prince Khalid, accompanied by a delegation, engaged with Sullivan to address the dynamic situation in the Middle East. The death toll has continued to rise, with over 8,300 casualties reported in Gaza and more than 1,400 in Israel.
Met with @JakeSullivan46 to discuss the Saudi-US partnership. I stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, protection of civilians, allowing humanitarian aid, and resuming the peace process. We also discussed the Kingdom’s efforts in Yemen to end the crisis and achieve… pic.twitter.com/C7jRCnzfII
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) October 31, 2023
During their meeting, the two representatives examined recent regional and international developments, with a particular focus on events in Gaza and the surrounding areas. The state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Prince Khalid emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire to protect civilians who are being displaced as Israeli ground forces extend their operations into the Gaza Strip.
Jake Sullivan conveyed a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden, issued by the White House, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to supporting its partners’ defense against threats from both state and non-state actors, including those with ties to Iran. It was also stressed that deterring any entity, whether state or non-state, from further escalation is of paramount importance, as per the White House statement.
The Saudi Minister also called for increased access to humanitarian aid and advocated for the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, as reported by SPA.
Additionally, the two sides engaged in discussions regarding the situation in Yemen and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to bring about a lasting peace and resolve the crisis. Sullivan reportedly acknowledged the significant de-escalation of the conflict over the past year-and-a-half and lent support to Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to end the Yemen conflict.
The Saudi delegation included Princess Reema bint Bandar, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Musab bin Mohammed, Deputy Head of the Kingdom’s Mission to the United States, and other officials.
On October 24, a phone call took place between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Biden, during which they discussed the ongoing escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. The Crown Prince stressed the urgency of immediate action to explore ways to halt the military operations.
Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, has expressed condemnation of the Israeli military’s ground operations targeting Palestinian lives.
In an October 20 meeting, leaders of the GCC nations and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) voiced grave concerns about the escalating violence in Gaza and condemned all attacks against civilians.
The war officially erupted between Israel and Hamas after the Palestinian militant group initiated an incursion into Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,400 people and the capture of over 200 hostages, some of whom have since been released.
Israel has faced criticism for restricting the supply of food, water, fuel, and medicine to Gaza, as well as cutting communication channels for several days.