Saudi- Obama hails time tested KSA ties

(MENAFN- Arab News) US President Barack Obama hailed his country's 'extraordinary friendship' with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as he hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif deputy premier and minister of interior and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman second deputy premier and minister of defense ahead of a crucial summit meeting with GCC leaders in Camp David on Thursday.
Describing 'an extraordinary friendship and relationship that dates back to (US president) Franklin Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz' in the 1940s Obama heaped praise on the two powerful Saudi princes in the Oval Office.
'We are continuing to build that relationship during a very challenging time' Obama said adding that his counterterrorism work with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was 'absolutely critical' to the United States.
Obama said Saudi Arabia is a basic partner in the fight against IS terrorist group that has occupied swaths of land in Iraq and Syria and threatens regional stability.
'This meeting is important ahead of Camp David talks to discuss bilateral relations the Yemen crisis and truce support for the legitimate Yemeni government and Syrian and Iraqi crises' the US president said.
The Saudi crown prince also lauded the 'great importance' of the 'strategic and historic relationship between our two countries' adding that Riyadh and Washington would work together to overcome difficulties.
In addition to Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir the meeting at the Oval Office was attended by Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi State Minister Saad Al-Jabari State Minister Musaed Al-Aiban and Intelligence Chief Khaled Al-Humaidan.