Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid al-Bayari held a series of meetings in Washington, the US capital, aimed at enhancing defense cooperation.
According to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense, al-Bayari first met with Mary Morgan, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The two sides discussed defense industry cooperation and issues of mutual interest.
Al-Bayari later met at the Pentagon with Michael Duffy, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Gentry Stephen, Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. The discussions focused on strengthening defense cooperation between the two friendly nations and developing areas that would contribute to regional security and stability.
The Saudi official also met with Thomas Dinanno, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, to discuss Saudi-US relations and their contributions to regional security.
In the final leg of the visit, al-Bayari held a meeting with CEOs of major American defense companies. The meeting assessed cooperation opportunities in defense industry, research and development, technology transfer, and localization in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
These contacts took place amid tensions caused by the US-Iran war that erupted in late February in the region. Last week, Saudi Arabia and the US carried out strikes targeting logistical facilities and weapons depots said to belong to Iran-backed groups in Iraq. These strikes were in retaliation for drone attacks on oil facilities and military bases in the region. The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces announced on Wednesday that 20 of its members were killed and 32 others wounded in airstrikes on its official headquarters in seven provinces.
