Saudi Arabia’s Vice Defense Minister discusses de-escalation with Esper
January 7, 2020, 10:37 am

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Defense Minister discusses de-escalation with Esper

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman with the US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. (File photo SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with the US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper where they discussed mutual challenges faced by the Kingdom and the United States, and ongoing military cooperation between the two countries.

“Met with @EsperDoDto discuss mutual challenges faced by our countries, and emphasize the importance of our ongoing military cooperation, which serves regional and international security,” Prince Khalid wrote on his Twitter on Tuesday after the meeting.

https://twitter.com/kbsalsaud/status/1214387603610488832

Prince Khalid earlier met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington where they discussed recent events in the region and efforts toward maintaining international stability.

Prince Khalid bin Salman met with is currently conducting an official visit to Washington and will be heading to the United Kingdom next.

source:Al Arabiya English

Germany to move some troops from Iraq to Jordan, Kuwait US VP Pence to lay out Iran policy in upcoming speech

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.