Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah to discuss regional security cooperation amid escalating Houthi threats. The talks follow Prince Mohammed's request for increased U.S. military assistance after Houthi forces seized strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, threatening global oil markets. Houthi advances have disrupted Red Sea shipping, putting pressure on Saudi Arabia, which has fought a long campaign against the group.

While the Crown Prince urged President Trump to take military action, the U.S. president declined, citing existing commitments. Diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran have stalled, leaving the region in a simmering conflict. The Houthi blockade of Saudi shipping and the broader Middle East conflict have driven Brent crude prices up nearly 4 percent to over $108 a barrel, reflecting investor concerns about Middle East instability.

The U.S. faces hesitation in joining new military action due to dwindling munitions stockpiles and the deployment of tens of thousands of American soldiers in the region.