US breaks ground on new embassy in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh

The State Department said it broke ground on the new US Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim and Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El-Khereiji joined US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new US Embassy in Riyadh to mark “a significant milestone in the enduring US-Saudi bilateral partnership and underscoring the commitment of both nations to strengthening ties.”

The new embassy will be built on a 27.5-acre site within Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. It will be “informed” by the geological characteristics of Saudi Arabia and inspired by the traditional architecture of the region, according to the State Department.

Separately, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Benaim met with El-Khereiji to discuss bilateral ties and ways to further strengthen cooperation “in addition to the regional and international developments and the efforts made in this regard.”

Bilateral ties between the US and Saudi Arabia go back almost 80 years. The State Department says both countries have a common interest in preserving the Gulf region’s stability, security and prosperity and “consult closely on a wide range of regional and global issues.

Saudi Arabia, the State Department says, also plays an important role in working toward a peaceful and prosperous future for the region and is a strong partner in security and counterterrorism efforts and in military, diplomatic, and financial cooperation.