RIYADH: US President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday, the latest stop on his first Middle East tour as US leader, where he met with the Kingdom’s leadership.
Biden arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on the third day of a four-day swing through the Middle East, where he was received by Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and the Saudi ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar.
He met with King Salman, where they reviewed the historical relations between Saudi Arabia and the US and ways to strengthen them to serve the interests of the two countries in various fields, the official Saudi Press News Agency reported.
He spent the first two days meeting with Israeli officials and traveled to the West Bank on Friday to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and others before flying to Saudi Arabia.
Biden then met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Salam Palace,
where they also discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation in a number
of fields, and ways to confront regional and international challenges.
The talks were attended by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin
Salman, Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, Minister
of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi ambassador to the
US Princess Reema bint Bandar, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan, along with a number of other senior officials.
The meeting was also attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking.
Biden also will take part in a Saturday gathering of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — before returning to Washington. The leaders of Mideast neighbors Egypt, Iraq and Jordan are also to attend.
Biden being received at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of their meeting. (SPA)
The Saudi leadership paved the way for Israeli planes to use its airspace by announcing it was lifting restrictions on “all carriers,” a move welcomed by Biden as “historic.”
“Saudi Arabia’s decision can help build momentum toward Israel’s further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia,” the US leader said.
Biden’s direct flight is the first by an American president from Israel to Saudi Arabia.
(With AFP and Reuters)
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