Saudi Arabia and the United States are working on major agreements covering strategic partnerships, economic cooperation, and military collaborations.
US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney, told Asharq Al-Awsat that while significant progress has been made on key aspects of the agreements, finalizing them requires more time. “We are very close to a historic agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia, but we need to complete all the details together. We hope to finalize it as soon as possible,” Ratney said.
He did not provide a specific timeline but emphasized the complexity of the negotiations. “Given the complicated nature of the region and the agreement itself, we aim to complete it as quickly as possible,” Ratney added.
In May, White House Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had several meetings on the near-finalized deal, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The US has also confirmed it will continue arms sales to Saudi Arabia, acknowledging the country’s efforts to prevent war in Yemen. “Saudi Arabia has made substantial diplomatic efforts to end the Yemen conflict and mitigate civilian harm in potential future conflicts,” Ratney said.
Ratney discussed the US’s role in maintaining security and prosperity in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East amidst the ongoing violence in Gaza and increased Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. He highlighted the US’s commitment to preserving freedom of navigation and its security partnership with Saudi Arabia. “Our naval and military presence in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea is crucial for regional security,” Ratney noted.
Both countries share the goal of achieving a two-state solution, allowing Palestinians and Israelis to coexist peacefully. “We believe that Palestinian statehood must come through negotiations between the parties, not through other means,” Ratney stated.
He emphasized the urgent need to end the violence in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and pursue a ceasefire while working to release Israeli hostages.
Ratney also spoke about enhancing economic ties between Saudi Arabia and the US, highlighting new opportunities for investment and collaboration, such as in commercial space exploration. “Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans in the space sector are creating new investment opportunities for US companies,” he said.
