Saudi Crown Prince, Blinken Met On Gaza Conflict, Bilateral Ties

(MENAFN- Nam News Network) RIYADH, Jan 9 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, met yesterday, with visiting U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in the kingdom's oasis city of Al-Ula, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza and bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the Saudi crown prince stressed the importance of stopping the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, and intensifying humanitarian action, report said.

He also underscored the need to work to create conditions for restoring stability and a peace process to ensure that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights and achieve just and lasting peace, it added.

Blinken is on his fourth trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct 7, 2023, which has led to escalating tensions across the region.

Earlier yesterday, Blinken held a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, in which the two sides also stressed the importance of avoiding the expansion of the conflict in the region and finding a clear solution towards regional stability.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the Saudi crown prince, Blinken said, he had discussed the Middle East's future with regional leaders and reached agreements on a few objectives in their meetings.

“We agreed to work together and coordinate our efforts to help Gaza stabilise and recover, to chart a political path forward for Palestinians, and to work towards long-term peace, security and stability,” he said.

The Saudi crown prince and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral relations.– NNN-SPA

MENAFN09012024000200011047ID1107698323