US Secretary of State Meets Saudi Crown Prince... Explains 'Trump Plan' on Gaza and Ukraine

Spotlight on Saudi Arabia's Mediating Role
in Talks on Ending the War in Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio visited Saudi Arabia on the 17th (local time) and met with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, according to the Saudi state-run SPA news agency.

On the 17th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio (left) visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Crown Prince bin Salman and Secretary Rubio discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations as well as recent regional and international issues, SPA reported.

Secretary Rubio also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the U.S. State Department said in a press release. The State Department stated that Rubio discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including increased economic and defense collaboration with Crown Prince bin Salman and others.

On the same day, Secretary Rubio and Crown Prince bin Salman reaffirmed that both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are committed to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of the agreement for the release of hostages held by the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Additionally, Rubio emphasized the importance of solutions related to the Gaza Strip that contribute to regional security, the State Department introduced.

In this context, Secretary Rubio likely explained and sought cooperation regarding the U.S. plan for the takeover and development of the Gaza Strip proposed earlier this month by President Donald Trump. It is also presumed that there was an exchange of views on the upcoming high-level talks between the U.S. and Russia to be held in Saudi Arabia to find a resolution to end the war in Ukraine.

Following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on the 16th, Secretary Rubio, continuing his Middle East tour, will meet with the Russian delegation along with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, on the 18th to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.

The Russian delegation, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov, also arrived in Riyadh on the same day.

Given the long-standing close relationship between President Trump and Crown Prince bin Salman, there are expectations that Saudi Arabia will play a mediating role in these talks. President Trump chose Saudi Arabia as his first overseas visit during his first term and made his first call with a foreign leader to Crown Prince bin Salman after his second inauguration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.