Saudi FM hopes 'quick' results on some deals with US

FM reiterates that normalisation is "off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood"

RIYADH:

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Thursday that Riyadh could potentially move "quite quickly" on some bilateral agreements with Washington even if a mega-deal involving recognising Israel remains out of reach.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated on Thursday that normalisation was "off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood".

But during a session at the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, he also said deals in other areas could advance soon.

"The bilateral agreements we are working on with the US are actually multiple agreements," Prince Faisal said.

"Some of them we can progress probably quite quickly, and some of them we are working on -- especially those related to trade, AI, et cetera -- which are not tied to any other third parties."

Prince Faisal seemed to acknowledge on Thursday that the defence-related elements were bound up with normalisation.

"Some of the more significant defence cooperation agreements are much more complicated," he said.

"We would certainly welcome an opportunity to finish them before the current administration's term, but that's reliant on other factors outside of our control."

Prince Faisal also said Riyadh had no preference on the winner of next week's presidential election in the US.