US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday to discuss Gaza, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

Rubio is visiting the Middle East after US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to relocate Palestinian residents from Gaza to other Arab nations. The US would lead efforts to restore the region. As a result, tensions have arisen in the Arab world.

Bruce stated, “The Secretary underscored the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security.” In addition, both leaders reaffirmed their support for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, agreed upon last month.

Key Topics of the Meeting

During the meeting, Rubio and the crown prince also discussed the situations in Syria, Lebanon, and the Red Sea. According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, they focused on regional and global developments and efforts to achieve security and stability.

Rubio’s Middle East Trip

Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier that day after visiting Israel. This marks his first visit to the region as the US Secretary of State. Notably, his trip is planned ahead of a meeting between US officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The meeting will focus on ending the war in Ukraine and rebuilding US-Russia relations.

However, neither side mentioned Ukraine in their statements.