At Pentagon, Saudi defense chief pushes for stronger US ties, talks security vis-a-vis Iran
Riyadh seeks US support to establish a nuclear energy program along with formal defense guarantees from Washington.
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia’s defense minister met with top Pentagon officials on Monday, seeking to lock in steady ties with Washington as the Trump administration shakes up long-standing relations with allies abroad.
Prince Khalid bin Salman, the younger brother of the kingdom's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. At the top of their meeting, Hegseth responded noncommittally when asked by a reporter if the United States would defend the kingdom in case of conflict with Iran.
"That's a topic we're going to talk about today. Iran is a big concern in the region. Saudi Arabia has been a great partner," Hegseth said.
Prince Khalid, who previously served as Saudi ambassador to the United States from 2017 to 2019, has been the kingdom's point man on coordinating with Washington throughout the regional Iran-linked conflicts stemming from the Oct. 7 Israel-Hamas war. He did not answer questions from press at the Pentagon on Monday.
