US secretary of state to visit Saudi Arabia next week, says State Department

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, commencing next Tuesday, the State Department announced.

During his visit, Blinken will meet with Saudi officials to discuss strategic cooperation between the two nations on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral one, including some related to the economy and security, Spokesman Matthew Miller said on Friday in a statement.

He is scheduled on Wednesday to attend a ministerial meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) to discuss the growing cooperation with our GCC partners to promote security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration, and economic opportunities across the Middle East, said the statement.

On Thursday, Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will co-host another ministerial meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh, this time of the international coalition to defeat the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization, it added.