US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - days after the White House announced it would deal with the king, not his heir, and US officials would interact with their counterparts in the kingdom, Reuters reported.

Crown Prince Mohammed, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister, discussed bilateral relations with the head of the Pentagon, especially in the area of ​​defense cooperation, SPA said.

Austin reaffirmed the importance of the strategic defense partnership between the two countries and said the United States is committed to helping Riyadh defend itself by condemning the attacks on the kingdom by the Houthi faction in Yemen.

US President Joe Biden said this week that he plans to change US relations with Saudi Arabia and intends to conduct diplomatic negotiations with the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, rather than the crown prince.

Former US President Donald Trump maintained constant contact with the Crown Prince through his son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner.