Saudi Vice Minister of Defense HRH Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Tuesday the US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Upon his arrival, HRH was received by the Commander of the US Central Command General Michael E. Kurilla, and senior US military officials in the US Central Command.
HRH the Vice Minister of Defense and the Commander US Central Command reviewed the historical bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, and ways to strengthen them consistent with the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, in addition to discussing military and defense cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of issues of common interest, including challenges facing the region and ways to address them, in addition to stressing the importance of coordination between the two countries, and their important roles in maintaining security and preserving regional and international stability.
On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces Major General Pilot Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Military Adviser to the Minister of Defense Major General Engineer Talal Al-Otaibi, and Director of the Office of HRH the Vice Minister of Defense Hisham bin Saif, and the Saudi Military Attaché in Washington and Ottawa Major General Fawaz Al-Fawaz.
In attendance from the American side was the Deputy Commander of the US Central Command Vice Admiral James Malloy, Chief of Staff of the Central Command Major General Patrick Frank, and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of U.S. Central Command Nikolas Granger.
The Saudi Vice Minister of Defense and his accompanying delegation arrived in Washington on Wednesday 18 May on an official visit to the United States of America.
On Thursday, Prince Khalid met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C. 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.
Then, the Saudi Vice 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.
Earlier, Prince Khalid bin Salman met 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.
