Blinken: We will focus on human rights in Saudi Arabia

SANAA, Feb. 7 (YPA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saudi Arabia is an “important security partner” of the United States, stressing that Washington will focus on the issue of human rights in relations with Riyadh.

“Saudi Arabia is an important partner in the field of security,” Blinken wrote in a tweet Saturday evening.

“We will continue our joint work to defend the kingdom from external threats, while at the same time intensifying diplomacy to end the conflict in Yemen and raise human rights issues within the framework of our relations,” he said.

Blinken  had a telephone  call  with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday.

During their call,  the two men “discussed regional security, counterterrorism, and cooperation to deter and defend against attacks” on the Saudi kingdom, department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

E.M