US Secretary of State to tour Saudi Arabia and Qatar

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Friday for a visit that will highlight improved relations between Riyadh and Baghdad and elements of Donald Trump’s strategy to contain Iran.

In his first trip to the Middle East since July, which includes a stop in Doha, Mr Tillerson will meet leaders from both sides of the Qatar dispute and discuss counter-terrorism efforts.

The week-long tour will also include Islamabad, New Delhi and Geneva, the State Department said.

In Riyadh, Mr Tillerson will take part in the inaugural Coordination Council meeting between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

The meeting comes amid a thaw in relations between the two countries. Saudi King Salman called Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi on Tuesday, and more agreements on the commercial, oil and gas sectors have taken place since the Iraqi prime minister visited Saudi Arabia in June.

Read the full article in The National.