USCENTCOM Commander Visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

TAMPA, Fla. - On 11-12 January, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited U.S. servicemembers and conducted key leader engagements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Gen. Kurilla met with Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and his key staff. The two generals discussed shared security concerns, their mutual commitment to addressing evolving threats in the region, and the importance of joint readiness through interoperability.

Gen. Kurilla and Gen. Ruwaili reaffirmed the importance of deepening bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly through joint military exercises, building interoperability and readiness, and capacity-building programs. The meeting underscored the enduring strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, which remains a key partner in maintaining regional security, stability, and peace and prosperity for the region.

The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have had a strategic partnership for over eight decades.

While in Saudia Arabia, Gen. Kurilla also met with Lt. Gen. Saghir Hamood Bin Aziz, the Chief of Staff of the Yemini Armed Forces, who traveled from Yemen for the visit. The leaders discussed efforts to strengthen security cooperation and combat regional threats, such as Iranian-backed Houthis and their attacks against military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb. They also discussed strategies to enhance the operational capabilities of Yemen’s armed forces.

Both leaders agreed to continue building on the partnership through future engagements. The meeting underscores CENTCOM’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, and security throughout the region.