US general visits Riyadh to discuss Yemen
Votel says he wants to hear Saudi concerns and maintain confidence
Riyadh: The head of US military operations in the Middle East wrapped up an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, amid a Saudi-led campaign to restore the internationally recognised government in neighbouring Yemen.
US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel held talks on Monday with top officials including Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammad Bin Salman.
Votel told reporters travelling with him that he wanted to hear Saudi concerns.
“The first thing we are trying to do is listen to what they are telling us. It’s important to maintain confidence in the relationship,” he said.
The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Mohammad and Votel discussed defence cooperation and joint efforts in “combating terrorism”.
