Saudi Crown Prince Meets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh
RIYADH, February 17, 2025 (SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS) – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh on Monday, marking the first visit by the U.S. official since assuming his new position.
Rubio’s visit underscores the strengthening of U.S.-Saudi relations at a crucial time for regional and international diplomacy. Before meeting the Crown Prince, Rubio held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the Saudi foreign ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh, where they discussed bilateral relations and pressing geopolitical issues.
High-Stakes U.S.-Russia Talks in Riyadh
Rubio’s trip coincides with the high-profile U.S.-Russia negotiations on Ukraine, set to take place in Riyadh on Tuesday. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to arrive in the Saudi capital later Monday to join talks with a Russian delegation.
According to the Kremlin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to President Vladimir Putin, will represent Moscow at the discussions. The talks in Riyadh mark a significant diplomatic shift, as both nations explore potential pathways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia continues to position itself as a key diplomatic mediator, leveraging its strategic alliances with both Washington and Moscow to facilitate critical negotiations aimed at global stability.