Saudi Arabia and US Strategic Agreements Discussion
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently met in Saudi Arabia’s eastern city of Dhahran to discuss strategic agreements between the two countries.
Agreements Progress
The agreements are a significant part of Washington’s efforts to bring Riyadh around to recognizing the state of Israel for the first time. This effort has been complicated by the ongoing war in Gaza.
According to Saudi state media, Prince Mohammed and Sullivan discussed the semi-final version of the draft strategic agreements between the Kingdom and the United States, which are close to completion.
Discussion Topics
- The two sides talked about the Palestinian issue and finding a credible path towards a two-state solution.
- They also addressed the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the need to stop the war and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.
Future Steps
Sullivan is set to visit Israel for further talks about the ongoing conflict. The Biden administration has been working towards an agreement where Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel in exchange for a stronger security relationship with the US.
The Saudis are also seeking assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program. Efforts towards normalization have been hindered by the conflict in Gaza and the civilian casualties.
While high-level talks continue, it remains uncertain whether Riyadh and Washington will proceed with their agreements, especially since Saudi Arabia and Israel have not yet reached a normalization agreement, as per analysts.
During recent discussions in April, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Saudi counterpart indicated that a final agreement on the US-Saudi component of the deal was nearing completion.
