Blinken Visits Saudi Arabia from June 6 to 8

The U.S. State Department announced today, Friday, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia from June 6 to 8 to meet with Saudi officials. The department stated in a release that "the visit will include a ministerial meeting between the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council countries next Wednesday to discuss security and integration in the Middle East." It added, "Blinken is also scheduled to co-host a meeting on ISIS with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan next Thursday." White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that "Blinken will focus on ways to advance U.S.-Saudi relations." He added, "We are focused on the future; it is an important strategic partnership," pointing out that "this does not mean we always agree with the Saudis on everything or that they always agree with us on everything. We certainly have differences of opinion."