US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for a one-day visit to discuss regional uprisings with King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, DPA reported.
Gates is also scheduled to meet with Defence Minister Khalid Bin Sultan to talk about uprisings in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya.
For its part, Saudi Arabia has also seen small, but significant protests over recent weeks calling for greater freedom and equality for the minority Shiite Muslim population.
Gates was met upon his arrival by Assistant Defence Minister, Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, and the commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Lieutenant-General Mohammed bin Abdullah Ayesh.
Washington and Riyadh share concerns about growing Iranian influence in the Gulf region.
The United States late last year announced an arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth up to 60 billion dollars, making it the largest military sale in US history. One of the sale's major aims is to offset Iran's growing military capabilities, according to the US State Department.
Both the United States and Saudi Arabia have long supported Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, but in recent days have shifted from publicly supporting his bid to stay in power.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a grouping of oil-rich Gulf countries, proposed that Saleh and members of the opposition meet in Riyadh to discuss the unrest that has left around 100 people dead since the beginning of the year.
A shared concern among the United States, Saudi Arabia and its neighbour Yemen, which has unsuccessfully been lobbying to join the Saudi-based GCC, is the ongoing battle against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Additionally, the GCC, which has taken on a political role within the region concentrating on security-related issues, recently sent troops to member-state Bahrain at the request of the government there to help quell a mostly Shiite uprising against the minority Sunni rulers.
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