Saudi Crown Prince, US national security adviser meet on bilateral deal

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met to discuss an almost ‘finalised’ draft of a deal between Washington and Riyadh, the Saudi state news agency reported on Sunday.

The meeting in the Saudi city of Dhahran reviewed “the semi-final version of the draft strategic agreements between the two countries, which are almost being finalised,” a statement read.

The discussions come in the wake of reports that a Washington and Riyadh are close to an agreement for US security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance, even as an Israel-Saudi normalisation deal remains beyond reach.

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The Crown Prince and President Joe Biden’s top security aide also discussed the need to find a “credible track for bringing about the two-state solution” for Israel and the Palestinians, stop the war against Hamas militants in Gaza and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, the statement said.

The White House said on Friday that Sullivan would visit Saudi Arabia and Israel to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including Gaza and efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.