Maduro was received at the airport of the Saudi Red Sea city
of Jeddah by Deputy Governor of Mecca region Prince Badr bin Sultan and other
officials, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Venezuela's
Maduro is the latest US foe to visit Saudi Arabia as the kingdom rebuilds
alliances without the blessing of the United States, its long-time ally.
Riyadh
has restored ties with Iran and Syria over the last months and strengthened its
cooperation with China and Russia.
SPA did not give a reason for Maduro's visit but the fellow
OPEC nation had sought coordination in the past with Saudi Arabia on falling
oil prices and US sanctions.
Maduro's visit comes a day before US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken lands in Saudi Arabia for talks with the Saudi leadership.
Since taking office, US President Joe Biden has eased some
sanctions on Venezuela - many imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump in a
maximum pressure campaign - to encourage dialogue. But negotiations have
stalled again.
The United States says it will ease sanctions on the OPEC
nation only in return for concrete steps toward free elections there
