ARAB ministers from the Gulf region will meet this week for annual talks, with a high-ranking US official as their visitor.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia to join the Gulf Cooperation Council talks starting June 6.
Blinken will discuss regional and global issues with the Arab ministers such as bolstering US-Saudi ties, and a durable ceasefire in Sudan, as well as co-hosting a meeting for the global coalition against ISIS.
The US and Saudi Arabia maintained an important strategic partnership for the past 80 years.
Under the Biden administration, relations were strained as regional analysts questioned Washington’s commitment to the Gulf region.
Moreover, the decision by the OPEC Plus and its allies, which include Saudi Arabia and Russia, to cut oil production since last year add fuel to the fire as the move angered Washington.
The trip will be Blinken’s first visit to Saudi since Riyadh normalized relations with Tehran.
