US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia, aiming to advance the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Blinken’s visit comes amidst ongoing efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.

During his visit, Blinken met with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the potential for normalizing relations between the two countries. Blinken emphasized the strategic importance of Israel-Saudi normalization in promoting regional stability.

The Biden administration sees Saudi recognition of Israel as a key step towards ending the conflict in Gaza. However, Saudi Arabia has previously stated that it will not recognize Israel without an independent Palestinian state.

Blinken’s visit to the region comes at a critical time, as the US seeks to leverage the potential for Israel-Saudi normalization to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. The outcome of Blinken’s discussions with Saudi leaders could have significant implications for the future of the Middle East.