Rubio Tempts MBS with Economic, Defense Cooperation

RIYADH, TUESDAY — United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered his country's economic and defense cooperation in a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (17/2/2025). Rubio made the offer amid Riyadh's rejection of President Donald Trump's proposal regarding the expulsion of the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Rubio also emphasized that in the agreement on Gaza, security in the region must also be achieved.

Rubio flew to Riyadh after visiting Israel and expressing the Trump administration's commitment to Israel's future. During the visit to Riyadh, he was accompanied by US Security Advisor Mike Waltz and US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Meanwhile, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was accompanied by, among others, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, National Security Advisor Musaed bin Mohammed al-Aiban, and Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar.

Saudi Arabian news agency SPA, as quoted by Arab News, reported that MBS and Rubio discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways to expand and develop that cooperation in various fields. The two also discussed regional and international developments and efforts to create security and stability.

The content of the meeting was conveyed in some detail by the U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. No joint statement was issued following the meeting. This is different from the previous separate meetings between Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Minister (Rubio) expects an increase in economic and defense cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia and is committed to further strengthening the bilateral partnership," said Bruce.

In addition, according to Bruce, Rubio and Prince MBS reaffirmed their commitment to implementing a ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including US citizens. During the meeting, Rubio also emphasized the importance of the arrangement and management of Gaza in contributing to regional security.

Outside of the Gaza issue, the two were also said to discuss ways to advance mutual interests in Syria, Lebanon, and throughout the region, including security in the Red Sea and freedom of navigation.

Before meeting MBS, Rubio was received by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. As reported by SPA, the two discussed relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them "in the interests of our two friendly countries." The two also discussed regional and international developments.

Rubio's visit to Saudi Arabia comes amid the potential fragility of further talks on a ceasefire between the Hamas group and Israel and the governance of the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire in Gaza has also not stopped Israeli attacks on other Palestinian areas, namely the West Bank.

In such conditions, some time ago US President Donald Trump launched a controversial and surprising proposal, namely the relocation of more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza. Trump stated that the US would take over the Gaza Strip and build the enclave into the "Riviera of the Middle East", and Palestinians would not be allowed to return to Gaza.

Egypt, Jordan—backed by Saudi Arabia—and the international community have rejected Trump’s proposal. Officials from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and host Saudi Arabia are scheduled to meet in Riyadh this week to discuss the Gaza issue. Two Egyptian officials and an Arab diplomat said a summit of Arab states would also be held next month.

Trump's plan to evacuate Gaza and relocate its residents has been taken seriously by Netanyahu's hardline cabinet. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday (2/17/2025) that they would form a special body to manage the "voluntary departure" of Gazans within his ministry.

The evacuation of Gaza as planned by Trump, in the view of Netanyahu's cabinet, means that there will be no resistance groups and even no Palestinian Authority ruling in Gaza.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-wing politician, said he was demanding a vote by Netanyahu's cabinet ministers on Trump's plan. He also demanded that Israel issue a clear ultimatum to Hamas: immediately release all hostages, leave Gaza for another country and lay down your weapons.

The transfer of Palestinians from Gaza to third countries, including Egypt, Jordan and even Indonesia, has been mentioned, and has been opposed by many parties. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have openly opposed it.

International legal experts have said the forced expulsion of Palestinians would amount to ethnic cleansing and a war crime.

In addition, expelling Palestinians would take away from the potential for normalizing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, one of Trump’s goals. Saudi leaders have said they will not recognize Israel if Palestinians are expelled from Gaza, or if Israel refuses to create a path toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The offer of economic-defense cooperation and the selection of Riyadh as host of a meeting of US-Russian delegations to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiation process are seen by some analysts as a way for the US to approach Saudi Arabia.

Amin Tarzi, an international relations analyst at the University of Southern California, as reported by Radio Free Europe, said that in addition to encouraging Saudi Arabia to take a leading role in international diplomacy, the US also wants to strengthen bilateral relations with its long-standing ally.

“Both Riyadh and Washington want to expand relations under the current US administration,” Tarzi said.

During Trump's first term in the White House, Riyadh-Washington relations in various fields were very good. Trump, who initiated the Abraham Accords, wanted Riyadh to normalize its diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.

Saudi Arabia reportedly agreed to this, although it later pushed Qatar and Bahrain to do so first. Before the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations was realized, the Hamas-Israel war erupted, starting with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Middle East observer and Advisor to the Indonesian Society for Middle East Studies (ISMES) Smith Alhadar, the Trump administration gave concessions on security agreements and nuclear technology transfers in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Israel. However, the dynamics that are happening in the Middle East, especially Palestine, have changed everything.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency and also the former Saudi ambassador to the US, as reported by Al Arabiya, said that there are still many alternatives to rebuilding Gaza without having to move its residents out of the territory.

“There is the Arab Peace Initiative, it is a very comprehensive alternative that will consider a final end to the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors,” Turki told the Munich Security Conference.

Matthew Robinson, Director of the Euro-Gulf Information Center, a think-tank in Rome, Italy, said that several events that will take place in Riyadh are a push by Washington for Saudi Arabia to become a major player in resolving various global geopolitical disputes.

At the same time, Robinson continued, even though there are disagreements on some issues between Saudi Arabia and the US, it will not damage the bilateral strategic relationship between the two countries. The US and Riyadh hope to continue to benefit from the relationship.

"While allies may disagree on specific policy issues, their broader strategic goals can enable and strengthen bilateral ties," Robinson said. (AP/AFP/Reuters)