US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh for talks with Saudi officials, focusing on a controversial US proposal for Gaza. This visit marks Rubio’s first Middle East tour as the top US diplomat.

Rubio’s trip to Saudi Arabia follows US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza and relocate millions of Palestinians from the besieged enclave. The US State Department confirmed that Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, where they emphasized the importance of a Gaza arrangement that contributes to regional security.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the two leaders discussed regional and global developments and efforts to achieve security and stability. Rubio also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to talk about strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional and international developments.

A primary focus of Rubio’s discussions was promoting Trump’s Gaza relocation proposal, which has faced strong condemnation from Arab states. Egypt, along with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, has been at the forefront of efforts to present an Arab-led alternative. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry recently announced plans to offer a “comprehensive vision” for Gaza reconstruction that excludes population displacement.

Riyadh will host a regional summit on Friday with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and others in attendance, aiming to formalize their proposals. While the US has shown openness to alternative proposals from Arab governments, Rubio has insisted that “the only plan is the Trump plan.”

In a separate diplomatic track, Rubio will join US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia is the second stop on Rubio’s Middle East tour, following a visit to Israel and before traveling to the UAE.