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Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia arrived in Washington on Monday for high-level talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the United States. As a major power in a raging war in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi militants, the kingdom's war is escalating dramatically and the US military operations against Iran are reaching a critical turning point.
A brief statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Prince Faisal arrived in the US to "review and discuss ways to develop and enhance" the two countries' "bilateral relations" and to "review regional and international developments." A source familiar with the agenda for Rubio and the prince said, however, that much of their time would be focused on the intensifying Houthi threat, the US-Iran conflict centered on the Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf security.
For more than a decade, Saudi Arabia has been battling the Houthi forces in Yemen, supporting the internationally recognized government of Yemen against the Iran-aligned rebels. Since the US launched the strikes against Iran on Feb 28, the war has taken on a new dimension. Even as the US strikes against Iran continue to generate huge excitement, the Houthi threat continues to remain. The projectiles fired by the Houthi militants were intercepted by the Saudi and coalition forces on Saturday, according to reports cited by Reuters. The projectiles pose a threat to Gulf shipping as well as civilian infrastructure in the region.
The crucial waterway through which some 20% of the global oil supply is transported, Hormuz remains the central point of conflict. The Iranians have repeatedly threatened to close the waterway in their conflict with Washington, but Trump last weekend rejected a fresh offer by Iran to open up the waterway, sending the price of oil sharply up. While Qatari mediators continue their shuttle diplomacy between Trump and Iran's leadership, the American President indicated he expects further negotiations with the Iranians this week.
The long-standing relationship between Riyadh and Washington is at the heart of the US Middle East strategy that has been in place for decades. The war in Yemen has heightened the partnership between the two sides, with Saudi Arabia pushing for arms and security guarantees from the US administration. Monday's diplomatic push is thus a reflection of both governments' new postures in the face of an intensifying regional crisis, according to sources familiar with the two governments.
