With two high-level visits in less than a month, the United States is hoping to steady ties with Saudi Arabia after several years of disagreement and deepening mistrust.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive for meetings with officials of the world's largest oil exporter next week, the State Department said, following a May 7 visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Although no breakthroughs are expected, analysts said the aims of the trip include regaining some sway with Riyadh over oil prices, fending off Chinese and Russian influence, and nurturing hopes for an eventual Saudi-Israeli normalization.
In a brief statement, the State Department said Blinken would visit Tuesday to Thursday to discuss economic and security cooperation as well as for a U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting and a conference on combating Islamic State militants.