RIYADH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Riyadh to discuss the US plan for Gaza and other key issues with Saudi leaders. This is his first trip to the Middle East since becoming the top US diplomat.

Rubio’s visit follows a proposal from US President Donald Trump to take control of Gaza and move millions of Palestinians out of the area. This idea has sparked strong reactions from Arab countries.

According to the US State Department, Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and stressed the need for a Gaza plan that supports peace and stability in the region. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that their discussions also covered global security issues.

Rubio also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud about strengthening US-Saudi relations and reviewing the latest regional developments.

Reports from US media say that one of Rubio’s main goals is to promote Trump’s Gaza plan, which has faced strong opposition from Arab nations. In response, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are working on their own plan for Gaza that does not involve relocating Palestinians. Egypt recently announced it would present a detailed plan for rebuilding Gaza.

A regional summit is set to take place in Riyadh on Friday, with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and other countries attending to discuss their proposals. While the US says it is open to alternative ideas from Arab leaders, Rubio has made it clear that Trump’s plan remains the main focus.

Talks on Ukraine War

Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia is the second country on Rubio’s Middle East tour. He has already visited Israel and will soon travel to the UAE.

Saudi Arabia’s Global Role

Saudi Arabia has been working to position itself as an international peace mediator. In August 2023, it hosted a major summit on Ukraine with delegates from over 40 countries, although Russia did not attend. The kingdom has also pledged $400 million in aid to Ukraine.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has built strong ties with Trump, who supported him even after global criticism over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump made Saudi Arabia his first international visit as president in 2017. Even after leaving office, his business links with Saudi Arabia remain strong, with Saudi investments in a company led by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and plans for Trump-branded properties in the kingdom.