WASHINGTON D.C.: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday in Washington D.C.

As well as relations between the two countries, Prince Khalid and Blinken discussed efforts of calming tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prince Khalid was received by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the headquarters of the US Department of Defense in Washington, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The meeting came as part of Prince Khalid’s official visit to the United States.

Upon his arrival, the minister of defense was greeted with an official reception that included a guard of honor and the playing of the national anthems of both countries.

Afterwards, the two ministers held a session of official talks, where they reviewed the historical friendship between Saudi Arabia and the US.

They reaffirmed the two countries’ strategic partnership in the military and defense sectors, discussed ways to strengthen and enhance the relations, and highlighted the leading regional and international roles of both countries in achieving global peace and security.

Both ministers also tackled the latest regional and international developments and the efforts being exerted in accordance with the shared vision of both countries, SPA said.

Attending the meeting were the Saudi Ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar and Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, as well as several senior Saudi and US officials.