Blinken's Regional Trip Begins; US Secretary of State Arrives in Saudi Arabia

Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, February 5, marking the first stop of his regional trip. Blinken's visit comes as Washington seeks to advance negotiations for a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as progress in discussions regarding governance over Gaza following the war. This regional trip, which is Blinken's fifth visit to the region since the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, occurs amid US retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militants in Syria and Iraq. The US conducted a series of airstrikes on centers and bases of Iran's proxy groups and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and Iraq starting early Saturday local time. According to the US President, this is the first phase of a series of strikes following the deaths of three American soldiers and injuries to over 40 others in Jordan. Blinken is also expected to travel to Egypt, Qatar, and Israel to facilitate negotiations between Egypt and Qatar with Hamas to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas. During the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel, 1,200 people, including children, women, and the elderly, were killed, and over 240 others were taken hostage. Israel claims that 130 hostages are still in Gaza, although some may have been killed. The US, UK, EU, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, stated on Sunday, February 5, that humanitarian issues in Gaza are Blinken's top priority during his trip. Sullivan noted that Blinken's main focus is to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, who are in dire conditions following months of Israeli military responses to the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks. Sullivan told CBS that the needs of the Palestinians are at the forefront of Blinken's attention. He stated that the US believes ensuring an agreement for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its attack, including American hostages, along with a humanitarian pause, is vital. He said, 'This is in the interest of US national security. We will emphasize this tirelessly. Therefore, this is a fundamental priority for us.' Earlier, Blinken emphasized the role of the United Nations in assisting Palestinians in Gaza during a meeting with Sigrid Kaag, the UN's senior coordinator for humanitarian assistance and Gaza reconstruction. He said, 'We will work closely with Sigrid, with Israel, Egypt, and other relevant parties to maximize aid, not only for entry into Gaza but for those in Gaza who need it, including in the north, and in this regard, the United Nations will remain a key and vital partner.'