US Vows to Uphold Defense Pledge to Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Tensions

The US will honor its defense commitments to Saudi Arabia amid escalating regional tensions and Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The comments come as Saudi Arabia and the US have a strong defense agreement in place since November 2025, which was signed during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington.

Rubio stated that the US has made commitments to Saudi Arabia and will live up to them, citing that the country is a strategic defense partner of the US. He also welcomed the restart of a Saudi oil pipeline that had been temporarily shut down following attacks earlier this month, emphasizing the importance of the infrastructure for both the Saudi economy and global trade.

Rubio accused Iran of supporting groups responsible for attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure across the region, stating that the Iranian regime actively supports organizations in the Middle East who target infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and civilians.