[1/3] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2023.
Speaking at a press conference alongside his Saudi counterpart, Blinken said the "historic" reform drive known as Vision 2030 would require Saudi Arabia to attract talent from around the world.
"I think it’s on its own merits and in Saudi Arabia’s interests to continue to pursue this modernisation including the expansion of human rights," Blinken said.
He said he raised with Saudi officials specific cases of U.S. citizens detained in Saudi Arabia, but declined to go into details.
As well as some U.S. nationals who are subject to travel bans, human rights advocates say scores of activists and dissidents are in prison or on trial in the kingdom.
Persons:
Antony Blinken, Faisal Bin Farhan, Ahmed Yosri, Blinken, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Mark Heinrich Our
Organizations:
Saudi Foreign, Intercontinental, REUTERS, Saudi, Thomson
Locations:
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, RIYADH, Saudi, U.S, Istanbul, Washington