UPDATE - Rubio, Saudi defense chief discuss security partnership, regional stability

UPDATES WITH RUBIO'S STATEMENT

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Tuesday with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud to discuss strengthening their countries’ security partnership, according to the State Department.

"They also discussed ways to jointly promote peace and stability in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and across the region, to include Red Sea security and freedom of navigation," it said.

Rubio also stressed the importance of standing together against threats by Yemen’s Houthi group to regional security.

The top US diplomat said on X that he discussed during his meeting with the Saudi defense minister "the importance of the US-Saudi partnership."

“Strengthening this key relationship is a top priority for the Trump Administration, especially when it comes to working towards our shared interests across the Middle East and advancing security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” he said.

According to a Saudi readout, the meeting also reviewed the historic ties between Riyadh and Washington and ongoing efforts on various issues of mutual interest aimed at enhancing international security and peace.

*Ahmed Asmar in Ankara contributed to this story