Biden Middle East adviser Brett McGurk meets Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on April 13. Photo: Handout/Saudi Foreign Ministry.
President Biden’s senior Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and U.S. envoy for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos Hochstein traveled to Saudi Arabia this week for talks with senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the White House told Axios.
Why it matters: McGurk and Hochstein are the most senior U.S. officials to visit Saudi Arabia since a crisis erupted between the two countries after the Saudi-led decision to cut oil production last October. The visit signals relations between Washington and Riyadh are improving.
Driving the news: McGurk nd Hochstein arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday and met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed ways to enhance joint coordination and serve the interests of the two friendly countries, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
What they are saying: The U.S. officials "emphasized the importance President Biden has long placed on ending" the conflict in Yemen, and "both sides welcomed their close coordination that led to a UN-mediated truce one year ago, and that has since helped forge conditions for a more enduring peace," the NSC spokesperson said.
The big picture: The U.S. officials discussed with their Saudi counterparts issues like energy security, clean energy cooperation, investment in the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and cooperative Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) projects to support accessible 5G and 6G technologies, the NSC spokesperson said.
Between the lines: Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia and other major oil producers announced that starting in May they will cut production by more than 1 million barrels a day. The cuts will continue until the end of the year.
Flashback: Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have been tense since the Biden administration assumed office.
What's happening: In recent months there has been slow improvement in the relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.