Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of a Middle East tour focused on the future of Gaza and Ukraine. His visit follows criticism of the Trump administration for not consulting foreign partners regarding the conflicts in these regions.
The Saudi embassy in Washington confirmed that Mr. Rubio met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, with a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman anticipated later in the day.
Having traveled to Riyadh from Israel, Mr. Rubio is expected to urge Saudi leaders to propose a vision for postwar Gaza. President Trump's controversial proposal to depopulate and occupy the territory has faced significant opposition in the Arab world, including from Saudi Arabia. This has led U.S. officials, including Mr. Rubio, to encourage Arab leaders to present alternative solutions.
On Tuesday, Mr. Rubio is scheduled to meet with Russian officials in Riyadh to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He will be joined by national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who also addresses Ukraine-Russia matters, according to a State Department spokeswoman.
President Trump's unilateral discussions with President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine's future have frustrated European partners, who feel sidelined from negotiations that impact their region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in a recent interview that Ukraine would not accept any peace deal made without its involvement.
Mr. Rubio's visit occurs amid uncertainty surrounding the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as the territory's long-term governance. Israeli officials were expected to meet in Cairo to resolve issues related to humanitarian aid for Gaza, but a decision on extending the truce, set to expire in early March, remains pending.
The Israeli government is cautious about prolonging the truce if it enables Hamas to maintain its military capabilities. While Hamas has shown a willingness to share administrative control, it has not indicated a readiness to disarm.
President Trump's proposal to depopulate Gaza and relocate its residents to Egypt and Jordan has been met with strong opposition from those countries and Saudi Arabia. International law experts have labeled such forced expulsion as ethnic cleansing and a war crime.
This proposal complicates Israel's efforts to normalize diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi leadership has stated it will not recognize Israel without a pathway to Palestinian sovereignty or if Palestinians are displaced from Gaza.
The situation intensified after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Saudi Arabia could host Palestinian refugees and establish a Palestinian state on its territory. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu's remarks as reflective of an "extremist, occupying mind-set" that disregards the historical and cultural significance of Palestinian land.
Here’s what else is happening in the region: