Rubio meets Princess Reema at State Department, reaffirms strong US-Saudi ties

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Washington Princess Reema bint Bandar on Thursday, the State Department told Al Arabiya English.

The meeting between Rubio and Princess Reema was initially scheduled to take place at the White House, according to the secretary's public schedule, but was ultimately held at the State Department.

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“They reaffirmed the strength of the US–Saudi relationship and the importance of continued close coordination to promote regional security,” a State Department spokesperson told Al Arabiya English.

The meeting comes as Washington and Riyadh continue close coordination on key regional issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, security in the Red Sea, and broader efforts to promote stability across the Middle East. The United States and Saudi Arabia maintain a longstanding strategic partnership spanning defense, counterterrorism, energy, investment, and economic cooperation.

Princess Reema, who has served as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States since 2019, is the Kingdom’s first female ambassador and has played a central role in advancing bilateral ties.

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