Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, holds talks with Commander of US Central Command Gen. Lloyd J. Austin in Riyadh on Wednesday. — SPA

Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, has met with US Central Command Chief as well as with defense ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei at his office in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meeting with Commander of US Central Command Gen. Lloyd J. Austin, he discussed a number of topics with regard to enhancing defense cooperation between the two countries. They reviewed the latest developments in the Mideast region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Muhammad also met with Indonesian Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Minister of Defense of Brunei Lt. Gen. Dato Abdulaziz Mohammed Tameet. During the meetings, both sides discussed a number of issues of mutual concern as well as ways to further boost bilateral relations, especially strengthening defense cooperation.

The deputy crown prince signed with the Malaysian minister a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the scientific, technological and industrial fields for national defense purposes.

The meetings were attended by Muhammad Al-Ayesh, assistant minister of defense, Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Bunyan, chief of the General Staff, Fahd Al-Issa, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of the defense minister’s office, in addition to senior officials from US, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

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