Currently on a visit to the United States of America, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia met in Washington, D.C., Thursday with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

During the meeting, they discussed the strategic relations between the two friendly countries, in addition to reviewing the Saudi-US partnership and aspects of strategic cooperation in the existing and future defense and military fields, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the close cooperation between the two countries' defense ministries, and for the efforts of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to promote them to broader horizons in a way that achieves the two countries’ common interests and enhances security and peace at the regional and international levels.

Then, the Deputy Minister of Defense headed the Saudi side in the meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee between the Ministries of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin H. Kahl headed the US side.

During the meeting, the latest developments and the rapid regional and international changes were discussed, in addition to discussing many issues and files as part of the two countries' vision to defend common interests and maintain international peace and security.

The meeting of the Committee was attended from the Saudi side by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili; Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, Dr. Khalid bin Hussein Al-Bayari; the CEO of the Ministry of Defense Development Program, Dr. Samir bin Abdulaziz Al-Tabib.

From the American side, the Committee's meeting was attended by the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander; US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Dana Stroul and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Stanley L. Brown.

Earlier, Prince Khalid bin Salman met Wednesday with the United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. During the meeting, they reviewed the solid historical Saudi-US relations and discussed prospects for cooperation and joint coordination between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, in addition to the ways to support and enhance them within the framework of the common vision between the two friendly countries.

The meeting was attended by Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America; Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber; Military Advisor to the Minister of Defense Major General Eng. Talal bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi and Director General of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Defense Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif.

On the American side, the Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the US National Security Council (NSC), Brett McGurk attended the meeting.

In another development, the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Lieutenant-General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, received in Riyadh Wednesday, the Commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force, Major General Pilot Jassem Mohamed Al-Mannai and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics of common interest.

At the end of the meeting, souvenirs were exchanged on this occasion.