WASHINGTON, Feb 4: President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia next month and meet King Abdullah to discuss the enduring and strategic bilateral ties as well as issues like regional security and countering violent extremism.
Obama’s visit also aims at reassuring America’s key ally about his policies in the Middle East in the backdrop of Saudi’s concern over US-led efforts to broker a nuclear deal with Iran and its reluctance to engage more directly in Syria.
“The President looks forward to discussing with King Abdullah the enduring and strategic ties between the US and Saudi Arabia as well as ongoing cooperation to advance a range of common interests related to Gulf and regional security, peace in the Middle East, countering violent extremism, and other issues of prosperity and security,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.
Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia following his visit to the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy in March. It will be his first visit to the Kingdom since 2009 when he visited Saudi as part of his first trip as president to the Middle East.
His trip comes after Secretary of State John Kerry visited Riyadh last month.
“Saudi Arabia is a close partner of the United States and we have a bilateral relationship that is broad and deep and covers a range of areas,” Carney said.
The US and Saudi Arabia are longtime allies on military and energy matters. The ties have witnessed some strains in recent months over a US deal with Saudi’s regional rival Iran on the contentious nuclear program and Syrian civil war issue.
“The President very much looks forward to the visit where all of those areas will be discussed in his meetings. And whatever differences we may have do not alter the fact that this is a very important and close partnership,” Carney said.
“Obviously, the Middle East peace process, matters involving security situations across the region, important economic issues with our bilateral relationship — this is an important meeting between two close partners and I’m sure the whole panoply of issues will be discussed,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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