Blinken will leave for a meeting with ministers from the Gulf Arab bloc on Sunday in his first trip to the region since the long shadow war between Israel and Iran escalated into outright conflict.
A. Blinken “will discuss the ongoing efforts to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which would secure the release of the hostages, and the fact that it is Hamas that stands between the Palestinians and the cease-fire,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department.
A. Blinken “will emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of conflict and discuss ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region,” he added.
Before the deadliest attack in Israel by Islamist militant group Hamas on October 7, Saudi Arabia considered normalizing relations with Israel, a major step taken by the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites.
It will be Blinken’s fifth visit to Saudi Arabia since October 7, with the United States hoping that the prospect of normalizing relations will encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has opposed the Palestinian statehood drive for many years, to moderate.
Mr. Blinken will discuss “the path to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” Miller said.
Gulf Arab Economic Cooperation countries, including Qatar, which has been leading months-long talks aimed at halting Israel’s deadly offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages, will meet in Riyadh.
In Saudi Arabia, which is one of the largest oil exporters in the world, A. Blinken will also participate in a special session dedicated to energy at the World Economic Forum, where the world’s business elite gathers in the Swiss city of Davos in January.
Miller said Blinken would promote efforts to combat climate change, which is a top priority for President Joe Biden and differs sharply from the values of his presumptive election rival, Donald Trump.
