Senior U.S. and Saudi defence officials convened the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Joint Planning Committee, where, according to a Pentagon readout, discussions addressed issues including “a broad range of security challenges throughout the Middle East region, including the war in Yemen, maritime threats and violent extremist organisations”. It added that: “The delegations spoke extensively about Iran’s destabilising activities in the region, and… agreed to enhance efforts to counter the smuggling of illicit weapons to violent non-state groups in the region”. The U.S. Undersecretary of Defense further “noted the need to work together on advancing regional integrated air and missile defence”, and “both sides agreed on the importance of continuing to advance the U.S.-Saudi military cooperation”.