RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan received on Friday a phone call from the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The phone call is the first between the two ministers since the election of the United States President Joe Biden.

The two ministers discussed common challenges and the historical strategic relationship ties between Washington and Riyadh.

Prince Faisal congratulated Blinken on his recent appointment as the top US diplomat.

The Saudi foreign minister expressed the Kingdom's readiness to work with the US to face shared threats to the region's stability and security.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia welcomed US President Joe Biden's support to the Kingdom in defending its sovereignty and territory against regional threats.

The Saudi statement was released after Biden vowed to "continue to support and help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and its territorial integrity and its people" in his first foreign policy speech at the Department of State in Washington.

Prince Faisal then tweeted, expressing support for the US call to cooperate with the Kingdom in defending its security and territory. — SG