US remains invested in Gulf partnerships, Blinken tells diplomats

The United States remains committed to its Gulf Arab partners, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Gulf diplomats in Saudi Arabia during a Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting. The meetings came a day after Blinken flew into Jeddah, kick starting a visit aimed at boosting ties with ally Saudi Arabia.

Relations between the decades-old allies have been strained in recent times, mainly over human rights and oil, after US pleas for help in bringing down skyrocketing prices last year were dismissed. The three-day visit is Blinken's first since the kingdom restored diplomatic ties with Iran.