Saudi King Salman and President Obama Meet at the White House

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman met with President Obama at the White House on Friday. The monarch on a visit to Washington said his country was willing to collaborate with the United States to ensure stability in the region. King Salman characterized his visit as symbolic of the deep ties between the allies.

President Obama said he and King Salman shared common goals of countering Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region and resolving the crisis in Yemen. Obama added he shared the king’s desire for an inclusive government in Yemen that can relieve that impoverished country’s human crisis. Their talks also addressed the Iran nuclear agreement.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States was working with its Arab allies on a ballistic missile defense system, special operations training and large-scale military exercises. Kerry met King Salman ahead of his meeting with President Obama.

Photo credit: Saudi King Salman and President Obama at the Oval Office; Washington, 4 September 2015 (Al Arabiya)

Saudi King Salman in Washington

Saudi King Salman arrived in Washington tonight for a visit with President Obama. The king arrived at Joint Base Andrews in a Maryland suburb of Washington. Wall Street Journal reporter Carole Lee snapped a photo of his epic entourage. (USA Today, 3 September)

On Friday at the White House, King Salman and President Obama will discuss Iran nuclear deal and regional conflicts.

Photo credit: The car fleet for King Salman and his entourage at Joint Base Andrews; 3 September 2015 (Twitter/@carolelee)

Obama in Saudi Arabia

President Barack Obama travelling with a 27-strong delegation arrived in Riyadh today to pay respects to the memory of the late King Abdullah and to meet with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the Kingdom’s new ruler. The delegation accompanying Obama includes Secretary of State John Kerry, CENTCOM Commander GEN Lloyd Austin, CIA Director John Brennan and Senator John McCain.

National Security Council spokesman Ben Rhodes said the president wants the same kind of relationship with the new king that he had with Abdullah, in which “we’re able to move forward on areas of common interest and able to be very candid and frank with one another about developments in the region.” (AFP, 27 January)

Photo credit: President Obama meets with Saudi King Salman; Riyadh, 27 January 2015 (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)