Currently on a visit to the United States of America, Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense HRH Prince Khalid bin Salman met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington DC.

During the meeting, the two discussed the strategic relations between the two friendly countries, in addition to reviewing the Saudi-US partnership and existing and future aspects of strategic defense and military cooperation.

HRH Prince Khalid bin Salman expressed the Kingdom's appreciation for the close cooperation between the Saudi Defense Ministry and the U.S Defense Department, and for the efforts of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to strengthen relations in a way that preserves the two countries' common interests and enhances security and peace at the regional and international levels.

Additionally, the Deputy Minister of Defense presided over the Saudi side on the meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the United States Defense Department. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin H. Kahl presided over the US side.

Regional and international developments were discussed during the meeting, in addition to issues of mutual concern, as part of the two countries' vision to defend common interests and maintain international peace and security.

The meeting of the Committee was attended from the Saudi side by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili; Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs, Dr. Khalid bin Hussein Al-Bayari; the CEO of the Ministry of Defense Development Program, Dr. Samir bin Abdulaziz Al-Tabib.

From the American side, the Committee's meeting was attended by the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander; US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Dana Stroul and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Stanley L. Brown.