DD India

Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is set to visit Washington on October 30 for scheduled meetings with high-ranking Biden administration officials, On October 28. The expedition comes amid an escalating conflict in Gaza, where Israel has recently launched the second phase of its military operations against Hamas militants, vowing to eliminate the enemy both above and below ground.

During his visit, Prince Khalid is expected to engage with key figures, including White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and various senators.

Furthermore, U.S. President Joe Biden and bin Salman discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from further escalation during a recent call. Saudi Arabia, like other Arab nations, has condemned the targeting of civilians in Gaza and decried what they see as “flagrant violations of international law” in the face of heavy Israeli bombardment.

Biden has also asserted that Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, which the Israeli government claims resulted in approximately 1,400 casualties, was aimed at disrupting the potential normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.