Rubio says US will live up to defence commitments with Saudi Arabia

By Fleur Hargreaves

Rubio says US will live up to defence commitments with Saudi Arabia

Responding to a question on the Houthi military campaign, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the US will honour its commitments in its defence pact with Saudi Arabia.

“We have a very strong defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we will live up to our commitments in that agreement. We don’t like what’s happening. Obviously, it’s very disturbing,” Rubio told a press conference.

“Saudi Arabia was not just attacked by the Houthis. They were probably also attacked by Shia militias in Iraq, who are an Iranian proxy,” he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press gaggle after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, on September 23, 2026. Yuki Iwamura / POOL / AFP — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York City, on 23 September 2026 (Yuki Iwamura/AFP)