Saudi Gazette report WASHINGTON — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama have directed officials to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a new strategic partnership between the two countries for the 21st century. The two leaders discussed on Friday the new strategic partnership and the ways to significantly elevate the relationship between the two countries. Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier, minister of defense and chairman of the Economic and Development Affairs Council, briefed the US President on the Kingdom's vision for the new partnership. President Obama welcomed an invitation extended by King Salman to visit Saudi Arabia next year to put the final touches to the strategic partnership. Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said the strategic partnership will include security, military, economic, financial and educational aspects among others. “There was a desire, intention and willingness from the two leaders to move these relations to a new horizon,” said Al-Jubeir at a press conference. He said President Obama welcomed the Saudi vision on strategic partnership and expressed his wish to work closely with the Kingdom to realize this vision. Al-Jubeir said King Salman's US visit is a historic and important landmark during which the foundations for new frameworks in the relationships between the two countries have been laid. He described the meeting between King Salman and President Obama as positive and fruitful as well as an indicator of the depth of relations between the two countries, since it tackled a wide range of issues.
