(Feb. 17, 2025 / Riyadh / JNS) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for about three hours with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday as the Trump administration looked for clarity on Riyadh’s position on a pan-Arab plan for post-war Gaza.

Rubio was joined by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Riyadh a short time before the meeting. The three are set to converge again on Tuesday for Saudi-hosted talks with Russia on a potential end to the war in Ukraine.

“We’re glad to work with you and with President Trump. And his administration made a decision, and we can work (for) positive things for Saudi Arabia and America, and also for many countries around the world,” bin Salman said at the top of the meeting.