US-Saudi talks focus on Gaza ceasefire, hostage release, and Red Sea security

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on February 17, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens. 

According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia after visiting Israel, where he was accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Caliber.Az reports, citing US media.

The discussions focused on Gaza and regional security, with Rubio emphasizing that any future agreement on Gaza should help strengthen regional stability.

During the meeting, Rubio also expressed hope for increased economic and defence cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia, highlighting the desire to strengthen the bilateral partnership further. The Secretary of State commemorated the 80th anniversary of the historic 1945 meeting between US President Franklin Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz aboard the USS Quincy, underscoring the long-standing strength of US-Saudi relations.

The meeting came ahead of talks between US and Russian delegations in Riyadh, which was scheduled for February 18. Rubio, Waltz, and Witkoff are set to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

The US administration confirmed that these talks would be strictly bilateral, focusing on issues including Ukraine, with no trilateral talks with other parties involved. This meeting is seen as a precursor to a future high-level meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

In addition to discussions on Gaza, the leaders addressed security concerns in the Red Sea, freedom of navigation, and broader regional geopolitical issues, including the situation in Syria and Lebanon. Rubio’s visit also coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement confirming Israel’s commitment to President Trump’s proposal for the relocation of Gaza’s residents, and stating that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority would govern Gaza post-conflict.

Meanwhile, a Saudi source said that Riyadh plans to hold a regional summit later this week to discuss Arab alternatives to President Trump’s Gaza plan, which has faced criticism.

Since the January 19 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, 70 individuals who were captured during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel remain in Gaza, with 35 believed to have died according to the Israeli military.

By Tamilla Hasanova