RIYADH: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz meets US Defense Secretary Mark Esper yesterday. - AFP


RIYADH: US Defense Secretary Mark Esper discussed "strategic cooperation" with Saudi King Salman yesterday, shortly after Washington ordered thousands of soldiers to the kingdom as tensions fester with Iran. The meeting in Riyadh, where Esper arrived late Monday after an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, also took in defense issues and the current situation in the region, the official SPA news agency said. - AFP