US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed his country's commitment to continuing defense cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to face the threats facing Gulf countries, noting that the United States plays a role in protecting maritime navigation and energy flow in the region, while leaving the decision to engage in new military operations against the Houthi militia to President Donald Trump.
Rubio said during a press conference, as reported by CNN on Sunday, that the United States is present in the region and working to protect the flow of energy and trade, clarifying that US Central Command continues to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, along with countering missile and drone threats targeting commercial ships and energy shipments.
Defense agreement strengthens partnership
Rubio's assurances are based on the Strategic Defense Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and the United States at the White House on November 18, 2025, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington, which aims to strengthen the defense partnership spanning more than eight decades between the two countries, develop their military capabilities and integration, and raise the level of deterrence and readiness to face regional and international challenges and threats, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In this context, Rubio confirmed that the United States is bound to Saudi Arabia by an agreement and understandings for defense cooperation, emphasizing Washington's determination to continue fulfilling its commitments, especially those of a defensive nature, saying: "We have a defense cooperation agreement and defense understandings with Saudi Arabia, and we are determined to continue fulfilling those commitments," welcoming the participation of other countries in efforts to defend the Kingdom against attacks.
Military decision lies with the US President
Regarding the possibility of the United States joining Saudi strikes against the Houthi militia, Rubio refrained from specifying the circumstances that might push Washington to make such a decision, emphasizing that military objectives and options rest with the US President, saying: "Those are decisions for the President to make," noting that the United States is in regular and continuous contact with its partners in Saudi Arabia, including communications between Saudi Crown Prince and President Trump.
Iranian support and Houthi militia capabilities
Rubio, while discussing the threats facing the region's countries, linked the military capabilities possessed by the Houthi militia to Iranian support, considering that the militia would not have reached its current capabilities without the direct support it receives from Tehran. He pointed out that Houthi attacks reaching Saudi territory serve as a reminder of Iran's role in enhancing the militia's capabilities, noting that the activity of Iran-backed militias in Iraq and attacks targeting Gulf countries reflect the scale of the threat facing the region.
Rubio called for envisioning the consequences of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon, warning that the threats Tehran launches against its neighbors may go beyond targeting ships and energy lines to affect the lives of large numbers of civilians. He believed this scenario highlights, in his words, "the nature of the regime we are dealing with in Tehran... a regime that wages war... not only against the United States, but also against its neighbors in the region... since 1979, through exporting its revolution," citing Tehran's role in supporting armed groups in the region, from the Houthi militia in Yemen to militias backed by it in Iraq and Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Rubio's statements come amid continued Houthi militia attacks on Saudi territory, as recent periods saw missile and drone attacks targeting cities and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom, a development reflecting the widening security threats it faces. These statements also come as US efforts continue to strengthen defense partnerships with Gulf countries, amid fears of the widening scope of regional confrontations and their impact on energy security and maritime navigation.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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