The US State Department to Asharq Al-Awsat: We are committed to relations with Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole

A high-level US official described the relations with Saudi Arabia as historic and deep, thanking the Kingdom for its role in many files, such as Sudan, and the strong coordination in the international coalition to defeat ISIS.

Hala Gharit, the regional spokeswoman for the US State Department, said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the day after Secretary Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia, that the idea of ​​the United States withdrawing from the region is incorrect, pointing to an American commitment to relations with Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole.

Gharit indicated that the meeting of the US Secretary of State with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shows the importance of bilateral relations, cooperation and coordination between the two countries in various files, such as Yemen and Sudan and the defeat of ISIS.

In the Yemeni file, the US State Department spokeswoman stressed the importance of reaching a Yemeni-Yemeni political solution, asking the Houthis to think about the Yemeni people and renounce violence to achieve stability in the country.

Gharit stressed that coordination with Saudi Arabia in the Sudanese file is very important, noting that all the concerned parties are still in Jeddah, and there are hopes for the return of the talks, while she talked about the sanctions imposed by the United States in coordination with Saudi Arabia and other parties with the aim of putting pressure on the two parties that did not abide by the truce, she said.

Hala Gharit explained that the meeting of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which will be held Thursday in Riyadh with the participation of more than 30 ministers and representatives of more than 80 countries, will focus on Syria and Iraq, collecting funding to combat terrorism there, building stability, along with Africa and Central Asia, and how to defeat “. ISIS” in these areas.

The US State Department spokeswoman reiterated her country’s position opposing normalization with Syria, but confirmed the United States’ understanding of the intention of its partners in the region to establish direct relations with the Syrian regime. Because the goal is to put pressure on the regime, as she put it.

Historical deep bilateral relations

The US State Department spokeswoman confirmed that Secretary Anthony Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia shows the importance of bilateral relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, indicating that his meeting yesterday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman touched on many bilateral, regional and international files.

She added, “The meeting was very important, as the minister will meet Saudi women leaders in Riyadh, and participate in the meetings of the International Coalition to Defeat (ISIS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (…), and it will be a very important visit to the United States.”

Gharit described her country’s military relations with Saudi Arabia as “very strong,” noting that “the Ministry of Defense has very strong relations in all matters that the Saudis want (…). There is an exchange of ideas in the technological and logistical field, as well as weapons, and the United States does not have any problems in this field.

Challenges and opportunities

Speaking about opportunities to strengthen relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, Gharit indicated that these opportunities do not only include security, military relations, and combating terrorism, but also include economy, trade, culture, and education. She said: “Now there are more than 20,000 Saudi students in the United States.” This is important for the United States, and for the future of the Kingdom. Exchange between peoples is very important, as it shows how deep and historical bilateral relations are. We are celebrating more than 80 years of bilateral relations, and we will further strengthen these relations.

Hala Gharit pointed out that one of the challenges is the human rights file that Minister Blinken discussed with the Saudi partners, among other files, and she continued: “But at the same time, we thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in many files, such as Sudan, as we have worked and are still working with the Saudi delegation in Jeddah.”

A political solution to the Yemeni crisis

Hala Gharit affirmed that the US position regarding the Yemeni crisis is to support a Yemeni-Yemeni political solution, away from the violence that the Yemeni people suffered from, as she put it, pointing out that the US envoy Tim Lenderking is in the region, working hand in hand with the Saudis, Omanis and many countries. Neighboring.

And she added, “At the end of the day, a Yemeni solution to this crisis must be reached. We support a political and diplomatic solution. Because violence is not the solution. It is enough for the Yemeni people to suffer from violence and conflict for a long time, and we call on all parties to return to the negotiating table and find a political solution to this crisis.

The US State Department regional spokeswoman called on the Houthis to think about the Yemeni people and renounce violence to achieve stability in the country.

Hopes for the return of the Sudanese talks

Gharit confirmed that coordination with Saudi Arabia in the Sudanese file was very important, indicating that all concerned parties are still in Jeddah, and she added: “We have hopes for the return of the talks. The United States decided, in coordination with Saudi Arabia and other parties, to impose sanctions on both sides. Because, unfortunately, they did not respect the armistice, and they must be pressured. At the same time, the most important thing for the United States is a cease-fire, and we are still working with Saudi Arabia in strong coordination; To reach this goal with the Sudanese authorities.

A permanent American presence in the region

The regional spokeswoman for the US State Department played down the importance of talking about an American withdrawal from the region at the expense of a greater growth of Chinese roles, noting that the United States has no concerns in this regard, and she said: “We do not have any concerns about this. We also have strong relations with China, and there are Sometimes competition (…) We respect the sovereignty of all countries, and we are confident in the relations between us and Saudi Arabia.

And she continued: «Let me be very clear on this point, there is no American withdrawal from the region, on the contrary, the United States has very strong relations with all countries in the region, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Minister Blinken’s visit shows that (… ). The idea that there is a withdrawal from the United States is incorrect, and we are committed to relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with the entire region.

Confronting terrorism and extremism

We thank Saudi Arabia that there is an alliance to defeat ISIS here in Riyadh. The minister will attend tomorrow. This is a very important coordination not only between the United States and Saudi Arabia, but there are more than 80 countries in this coalition, and there will also be more than 30 ministers in Meeting, coordination is the most important thing in terms of combating terrorism and the permanent defeat of ISIS. Therefore, there is a large delegation from the United States, including many ministers: foreign affairs, treasury and others. Because this is very important for us, and we thank Saudi Arabia for the coordination in this field.

The regional spokeswoman for the US State Department suggested that the meeting of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which is being held in Riyadh, will focus on Syria and Iraq, collecting funding to combat terrorism there, building stability in liberated areas, as well as the return of fighters and their families to their countries.

She added, “The focus will also be on Africa and Central Asia. Because we know that we defeated (ISIS) on the battlefield, but unfortunately the ideology of (ISIS) is still a big problem, not only in the region, but in the whole world, and there is a working group focused on Africa, and we know that the coalition will focus on Central Asia.

Normalization with Syria and partner relations

Hala Gharit confirmed that the United States is against any kind of normalization with the Syrian regime, indicating that this regime is the one that used chemical weapons against its people, and said: “We also understand the intention of our partners in the region to have direct relations with this regime; Because in the end we have the same goal, which is putting pressure on the regime, but for us we do not have any confidence in the Assad regime. We know that normalization is not the solution, at the same time we are coordinating with our allies regarding the restoration of relations with Syria.

With regard to the presidential vacancy in Lebanon, Gharit stated that the United States is with the Lebanese people, and they are the ones who decide their future. She added: “As for the United States, we want the Lebanese people to have an opportunity for a new president.”