Washington, United States – US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss various global and regional issues.
During the call, Sullivan commended the progress made in Yemen over the past year and welcomed Saudi Arabia’s efforts towards a comprehensive roadmap for ending the conflict.
“Mr. Sullivan highlighted the remarkable progress in Yemen over the past year, during which fighting has nearly ceased under a UN-mediated truce,” a White House statement said. “He welcomed Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary efforts to pursue a more comprehensive roadmap for ending the war and offered full U.S. support for those efforts.”
Sullivan also pledged full US support for these efforts and noted that special envoy Tim Lenderking will visit the region soon.
The two leaders also talked about de-escalation in the region and maintaining deterrence against threats from Iran and elsewhere. Sullivan reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Overall, the call between Sullivan and Crown Prince Salman highlighted ongoing diplomacy to end the war in Yemen and broader efforts towards de-escalation in the region, while also emphasizing the importance of cooperation on various issues of mutual interest.
The leaders committed to staying in regular contact and accelerating cooperation on issues like clean energy, infrastructure, and cutting-edge technology development. This includes the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), as well as investment in Open Radio Access Network (O-Ran) 5G and 6G technologies.
The call comes amid the backdrop of Saudi-Iran detente, paving the way for ending the conflict in Yemen. China played a key role in brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the dominant Sunni and Shi’ite powers in the Gulf. The two countries are working to reopen their embassies and consulates within two months.
This move has raised concerns about a potential shift in Saudi Arabia’s allegiance from the US to China, particularly in light of tensions between the two allies over issues such as human rights and Saudi Arabia’s oil production cuts.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is also seeking a permanent ceasefire in Yemen’s long-running war and has engaged in talks with Houthi officials in Sanaa, along with Oman.
The conflict in Yemen is widely viewed as a proxy battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the Houthis, who have de facto control over north Yemen, aligned with the latter.