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Prince Khalid bin Salman detailed the telephone conversation with Pete Hegseth in a post on his official X account, where he noted that the two reviewed strategic defense cooperation between their countries. The discussion also covered regional and global developments, with particular attention to efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and the continued Houthi terrorist attacks against Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials framed the exchange as part of ongoing coordination to address shared security concerns across the Middle East.
The call follows Prince Khalid’s January 2026 meetings in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and a special envoy for the Middle East, during which the parties examined strategic relations and prospects for enhancing cooperation on regional peace. The Saudi Press Agency reported that those talks addressed efforts to achieve peace in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the Red Sea while strengthening the bilateral partnership. Senior military figures, including Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, participated in the earlier sessions alongside their American counterparts.
According to the US Embassy in Riyadh, the November call reaffirmed the strong US-Saudi strategic defense partnership and focused on joint work to bolster regional security and stability. A parallel statement from the Saudi Embassy in Washington highlighted the emphasis on containing tensions amid Houthi activities. Both readouts underscored the alignment between the two nations on deterrence against common threats.[[1]](https://x.com/USAinKSA/status/2106784309306658912)
Houthi attacks have persisted against Saudi targets throughout the year, prompting repeated diplomatic and security responses from Riyadh. Prince Khalid bin Salman specifically referenced “the continued Houthi terrorist attacks against the Kingdom” in his account of the conversation with Hegseth. Saudi authorities have linked these incidents to broader instability originating from Yemen that affects both national security and international maritime routes.
The dialogue reflects the longstanding US-Saudi defense relationship that has included multiple joint strategic planning meetings and high-level coordination on military capabilities. In previous engagements, Prince Khalid has co-chaired sessions with US undersecretaries focused on defending common interests and promoting global stability. These frameworks have guided collaboration on intelligence, training and equipment support over several years.
Parallel diplomatic efforts have involved Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar in supporting the defense discussions with broader bilateral talks. The latest call adds to a pattern of frequent communications between the defense establishments that intensified following regional escalations earlier in 2026. Officials from both countries have consistently pointed to the partnership as essential for addressing threats from Iran-backed groups operating in the area.
