The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met on Wednesday with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to develop the strategic relations between both countries, especially in the military field. In addition, they discussed the latest regional and international updates, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Mattis also met with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed joint military cooperation in the fight against Islamic State, the Pentagon said in a statement.
Mattis and Prince Mohammed, who is the Kingdom’s defense minister, also discussed “confronting Iran’s destabilizing regional activities,” the statement added.
The US Defense Secretary arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday evening. He traveled on Thursday to Egypt and then to Israel on Friday before returning to the Gulf Saturday for talks in Qatar.
Last month, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the United States’ Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon to discuss ways to further enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
In a meeting that lasted over three hours, the two also discussed the battle against ISIS as well as halting Iran’s intervention in the region.
The Deputy Crown Prince also met with US President Donald Trump during his last month trip to Washington, marking a historic moment in being the first Gulf leader to meet with the newly elected President.
