On Sunday, Mohammad Bin Salman, the Saudi Prince and Prime Minister, hosted a special meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is being billed as another significant “Quad” in West Asia.
Doval addressing Gulf Infrastructure
U.S. NSA Jake Sullivan described the meeting, which was held last week to discuss regional infrastructure initiatives, as “unlike anything seen in the region in recent years.” The NSA’s visit is significant because it comes a week after his visit to Iran, where the country agreed in a Beijing-mediated meeting to restart relations with Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Doval’s travels were not discussed by the MEA or the National Security Council, but Saudi Arabia and the United States government made official statements about the discussions.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “[the leaders] discussed means to strengthen relations and ties between their countries in a way that enhances growth and stability in the region” during the meeting with Mr. Doval, the U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the UAE NSA, and Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Tahnoun.
The meeting aimed to “advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world,” according to a statement from the United States White House.
According to a statement released by the White House on Monday, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Doval will meet once more “on the margins of the Quad Summit later this month in Australia.” Mr. Modi is because of movement to Hiroshima as a component of the G-7 effort to different nations (May 19-21), which President Biden will join in; to Papua New Guinea as part of a bilateral visit, during which Mr. Biden will also be there (May 21-23); and meet Mr. Biden at the Quad Summit between the United States, India, Australia, and Japan in Sydney on May 24.