RIYADH — US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper held key talks with the leadership of the Royal Saudi Air Force on Tuesday on the first day of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. "Important discussion today with the command leadership of the Royal Saudi Air Force on addressing shared challenges as the KSA and US work closer together on security cooperation imperatives, counterterrorism, and defense trade," Cooper said in a tweet on Tuesday. According to a press release from the US Department of State, Assistant Secretary Cooper is expected to meet with senior government officials in Riyadh to discuss security cooperation and defense trade. Saudi Arabia is a strong US partner in security and counterterrorism, the press release added. Assistant Secretary Cooper will meet with senior government officials in Riyadh to discuss security cooperation and defense trade. The US assistant secretary of state is currently on an official visit to some of the key Middle East states. Before visiting the Kingdom, Cooper was in the United Arab Emirates for two days where he held consultations with senior civilian and military officials in Abu Dhabi on deepening bilateral security partnership and proposed sales of advanced defensive capabilities to deter Iran and its regional proxies. The assistant secretary of state also discussed the changing regional security landscape and increased opportunities for cooperation in the wake of the UAE's decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. Cooper will be in Bahrain on Thursday and Friday where he will discuss expanding partnerships in maritime security and defense trade, according to the press release. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and its security cooperation with the US strengthens interoperability for regional security and counterterrorism cooperation, boosts its maritime defenses, and improves its counter-terrorism capabilities in a manner that respects the human rights of its citizens, the Department of State said. The assistant secretary of state will also visit Israel on the last leg of the Middle East visit.
