U.S. Saudi Arabia Officials Strengthen Military Partnership

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Defense Minister, at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. today. This visit is part of Prince Khalid’s official trip to the United States. Upon arrival at the U.S. Defense Ministry, official welcoming ceremonies took place, including a guard of honor review and the playing of both countries’ national anthems. Prince Khalid also wrote in the official visitors’ book for the occasion.

Subsequently, the Defense Ministers held an official discussion session. They reviewed the historic friendship between Saudi Arabia and the United States, emphasizing their strategic military and defense partnership. They explored ways to strengthen and develop this partnership. They also discussed the two countries’ regional and international leadership roles in maintaining global peace and security.

The ministers addressed the latest developments on regional and international levels, discussing ongoing efforts based on their shared vision. Various topics of mutual interest were also discussed.

Attendees from the Saudi side included Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., General Fayyadh bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff, Dr. Khalid bin Hussein Al-Bayari, Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, Director General of the Office of the Minister of Defense, and Brigadier General Salman bin Awad Al-Harbi, Military Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Washington and Ottawa.

From the American side, attendees included General Charles Brown, Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Ronald Clark, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Brian McKeon, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, Kelly Magsamen, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense, and Brigadier General Richard Quirk, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.