Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, has arrived in Washington amid rising tensions between Riyadh and Yemen’s Houthis, and is set to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral relations and regional and international developments.

Saudi Arabia’s state news agency said on Monday, September 28 (Mizan 6), that the exact focus of the talks has not been announced, but the two countries’ relations and the most important regional and global developments are on the agenda of this meeting.

This trip comes as the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis has intensified.

According to a Reuters news agency report, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had requested military assistance from the United States against the Houthis this month, but Washington did not agree to carrying out direct strikes and instead accepted providing intelligence and support in identifying targets.

Tensions in Yemen have also increased concerns about the security of maritime routes and energy transfers in the region.

The G7 countries also, in a statement on September 22, condemned Houthi attacks and threats against shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, and called for an end to the attacks and a return to the political process.