Saudi Arabia, US stress strategic partnership

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has said it shares a strategic partnership with the US to safeguard regional and global stability.

The partnership was stressed at a meeting in Riyadh between Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.

The Saudi official said their talks came “to confirm our two countries’ resolve in securing the region, within the context of our historical partnership”.

He added on his Twitter account that they underlined their countries’ joint vision in maintaining the region’s stability and global security.

Prince Khalid said he had conveyed to Milley the kingdom’s appreciation to the US for its efforts to safeguard regional stability by dispatching troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia.

During the talks, an emphasis was laid on identical views held by both countries on confronting all forms of terrorism and threats to regional security through “advanced defence coordination” between them, Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Saudi Arabia is a longtime ally of the US with both countries sharing a tough line against Iran and its proxies in the region.

Riyadh and Washington have repeatedly accused Iran of standing behind an attack against vital Saudi oil facilities last September. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Al Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack.