Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met today with Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Secretary and the Deputy Crown Prince affirmed the longtime security partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. They discussed a range of issues related to mutual security interests, including checking Iranian destabilizing activities in the region and countering violent extremism from groups like ISIL.
Building on commitments made at Camp David last May, and in advance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit to be hosted by President Obama in Riyadh, Secretary Carter identified several areas where the United States and Saudi Arabia can deepen their security cooperation for the benefit of both countries, such as enhancing training for special operations and counterterrorism forces, integrating air and missile defense systems, bolstering cyber defenses, and strengthening maritime security.
The Secretary and Deputy Crown Prince agreed to continue these constructive discussions at the U.S.-GCC Defense Ministerial, which they will co-host Wednesday in advance of the U.S.-GCC Summit the following day.