Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for what could be President Donald Trump’s first overseas trip of his second term. The meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department also focused on the ongoing conflict in Sudan, as the two sides jointly urged a return to peace negotiations and a restoration of civilian rule.
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According to a State Department statement, both diplomats stressed the need for Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to resume talks, protect civilians, allow humanitarian access, and transition back to civilian governance. The plea follows renewed violence in Khartoum, where the army recently claimed it had regained full control after months of clashes. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, the war has displaced more than 12 million people and resulted in famine in certain regions, as confirmed by a UN-backed assessment.
The Saudi minister’s visit is reported to be part of preparations for President Trump’s possible trip to Riyadh, reminiscent of his 2017 visit during his first term. A source familiar with the matter noted that regional developments in Gaza, Yemen and Syria were also discussed. Rubio and Prince Faisal reviewed ongoing diplomatic efforts in Gaza, including negotiations for the release of hostages and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. The US reiterated its stance that Hamas must be fully disarmed and rendered politically powerless.
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Economic cooperation also featured in the bilateral discussions. In January, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $600 billion in US trade and investment, with Trump later claiming that total Saudi spending in the US could approach $1 trillion—framing it as a major job-creating initiative. As during his first term, Trump is expected to prioritise encouraging Saudi-Israeli normalisation of ties. He also maintained strong ties with Crown Prince Mohammed, controversially claiming to have shielded him from harsher fallout over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
