US President Joe Biden will travel to Saudi Arabia next month where he is expected to meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Biden's Saudi visit is part of his wider trip to the Middle East from July 13 to July 16, starting in Israel and the West Bank before landing in Jeddah.
During the stop in Israel, Biden will emphasise the US commitment to the country, which includes billions in military support.
He will also hold a virtual summit with the leaders of Israel, India, and the UAE as a way to demonstrate that regional partnerships extend beyond the Middle East, a senior White House official said.
Biden will end the trip in Saudi Arabia where he is scheduled to attend a summit with GCC leaders as well as Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Jordan's King Abdullah, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
US President Donald Trump will follow up his summit with Xi Jinping by taking the Chinese leader on Friday to the US National Archives, where they are expected to stress views about the history and direction of ties between their countries.
France will send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, which is key for energy transport, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that the Palestinian economy is currently facing “the most severe economic crisis recorded anywhere in the world", with an estimate $71.5 billion needed for recovery.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defence of Israel's actions in the region at the UN, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.
US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit expected to be heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with both leaders keen to showcase stable ties despite a host of thorny issues.