Blinken's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 'open and candid'

The two discussed conflicts in Sudan and Yemen

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with marine security guards from the American embassy in Riyadh before his departure. Photo: US State Department

Mr Blinken met embassy personnel and their families in Riyadh. Photo: US State Department

He also met personnel from the Yemen Affairs Unit, which is based at the embassy. Photo: US State Department

Mr Blinken shakes hands with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a news conference in Riyadh. AP

Mr Blinken and Prince Faisal give a joint press conference after a ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Riyadh. AFP

Mr Blinken speaks during the news conference. AP

Mr Blinken appears during a joint press conference in Riyadh. AFP

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, second right, during talks with Mr Blinken, fourth left, at the ministerial meeting for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Riyadh. AFP

Mr Blinken and Prince Faisal at a meeting in Riyadh. Reuters

Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS with Mr Blinken, centre, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh. AP

Prince Faisal escorts Mr Blinken as they arrive for a meeting with GCC ministers in Riyadh. AFP

Mr Blinken meets GCC foreign ministers in Riyadh. AP

Mr Blinken speaks during the meeting at the GCC Secretariat. AP

Mr Blinken poses with officials during the meeting in Riyadh. AP

The US Secretary of State held talks with Prince Faisal in Riyadh. AP

Mr Blinken arrives at an event for Saudi Arabia's female leaders at Fenaa Alawwal Arts and Cultural Centre in Riyadh. Reuters

Mr Blinken at the Fenaa Alawwal Arts and Cultural Centre. Reuters

The US Secretary of State during his visit to the Fenaa Alawwal Arts and Cultural Centre. Reuters

Mr Blinken during his visit to the cultural centre. Reuters

Mr Blinken speaks during his visit to the centre. Reuters

Mr Blinken is greeted by a Saudi official upon his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. AFP

The US Secretary of State is visiting Saudi Arabia. Photo: US State Department

Mr Blinken participates in a Sudan evacuation thank-you event with diplomatic staff in Jeddah. Photo: US State Department

Mr Blinken addresses the event. Photo: US State Department

Mr Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Reuters

Saudi ambassador to the US Reema Bint Bandar, left, talks to Mr Blinken in Jeddah. AP

American ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney greets the US Secretary of State on his arrival in Jeddah. AP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held “open and candid” talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah early on Wednesday, a US official said.

Meeting after midnight in the seaside city, the senior officials spoke for an hour and 40 minutes, a US official said. They discussed the wars in Yemen and Sudan, among other subjects.

“There was a good degree of convergence on potential initiatives where we share the same interests, while also recognising where we have differences,” the official said.

An issue of top priority is the possible normalisation of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, even though officials had played down the likelihood of any major progress on the topic.

“They discussed the potential for normalisation of relations with Israel and agreed to continued dialogue on the issue,” the US official said.

America’s top diplomat and the Crown Prince also spoke about “aspects of co-operation in various fields and developments in regional and international situations”, according to the Saudi press agency.

The meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, Princess Reema bint Bandar, the kingdom's ambassador to the US, and Musaed Al Aiban, Saudi Minister of State and National Security Adviser, as well as several US officials.

“The two affirmed their shared commitment to advance stability, security and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond, including through a comprehensive political agreement to achieve peace, prosperity and security in Yemen,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

The two countries have led talks between the warring sides in Sudan.

“The secretary also thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s support [in] evacuating hundreds of US citizens from Sudan, and for the kingdom’s ongoing partnership in diplomatic negotiations to stop the fighting there,” said Mr Miller.

Mr Blinken and Prince Mohammed also discussed deepening economic co-operation, especially in the clean energy and technology fields, the department said.

Early on Wednesday, Mr Blinken participated in a Sudan evacuation “thank you” event with staff from the US consulate in Jeddah and the embassy in Khartoum.

He is then expected to meet Prince Faisal and attend a meeting with foreign ministers of the Gulf Co-operation Council in Riyadh.

Later, he is to attend a global Coalition to Defeat ISIS ministerial meeting.

Mr Blinken is on a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia as the US tries to shore up ties with a key regional ally.

Relations between the two countries have been frosty under President Joe Biden. However, the US has made overtures in recent months.

In May, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan travelled to the kingdom and met Prince Mohammed.