U.S. Secretary of State's Consultations with Egyptian and Saudi Counterparts in Brazil

On Monday, November 28, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met and discussed with his counterparts from Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan consulted on efforts to end the war in Gaza, ensure the freedom of hostages, and promote security in the region. They also reviewed ongoing efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Lebanon aimed at implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. According to the U.S. State Department, Blinken also discussed the situation in the Middle East and efforts to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. He emphasized the necessity of freeing all hostages and increasing and sustaining humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, calling for the establishment of a pathway for the post-war period and reconstruction of the enclave. The war in Ukraine and the Middle East were central to the final statement of the G20 summit, where the U.S. sanctioned 'illegal settlers' in the West Bank, warned Ankara about hosting Hamas leaders in Turkey, and Biden called for G20 pressure on Hamas to accept a ceasefire.