JEDDAH – US President Barack Obama will arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday on an official visit to the Kingdom. He will hold wide ranging talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. Obama will also attend the US-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit on Thursday. Sources at the White House told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the president's visit would be a significant opportunity to discuss about the future of Saudi – American strategic partnership. The two leaders will discuss key issues in the Middle East, especially the Syrian and Yemeni crises as well as the fight against terrorism. The flagrant interference of Iran in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia and other GCC states will also figure in the talks. According to the sources, Obama will propose to the Gulf leaders the establishment of a US-GCC Council to coordinate the efforts in combating terrorism. This would be the fourth visit of Obama to the Kingdom after taking over the presidency in 2009. Prior to the summit, the GCC defense ministers will have a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at Al-Diriyah Palace on Wednesday. The ministers are expected to present a plan in front of Ashton with regard to tackling the Iranian threat, resolving the Syrian and Yemeni crises and combating terror. They will also discuss ways to further cement US-GCC strategic cooperation.
