Saudi Arabia and US CENTCOM Discuss Easing Regional Tensions

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) to discuss efforts to ease regional tensions on Thursday. The Crown Prince received CENTCOM commander General Brad Cooper in a meeting that focused on defence cooperation, regional developments, and ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and strengthen security and stability in the region, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia announced that 13 countries had officially joined a multinational maritime defence alliance, which has now commenced operations. The Saudi Defence Ministry stated that the alliance aims to safeguard freedom of navigation, international trade, and energy supply routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The ministry described the upcoming third meeting of the alliance, to be held at the Western Fleet Command in Jeddah with representatives from 39 countries, as a significant step towards activating the coalition.

The diplomatic and military engagements occur against a backdrop of rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, fuelled by the ongoing standoff between the US and Iran, which has raised global concerns over potential disruptions to shipping and energy supplies.