Tuesday was a landmark in the history of Saudi-American relations. The most outstanding among its events was the first meeting between King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and US President Barrack Obama in the Oval Office to launch a new era in the countries' relations that will create a stronger strategic partnership. The friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the White House was clear from the first moments of going inside, including the simple, courteous security measures implemented before arriving at the Oval Office, where King Abdullah and President Obama were sitting with Ambassador Adel Al-Jubair behind them. The importance of the meeting and the two leaders' closeness was made clear by the president hosting a private luncheon in the family dining room in his private residence. White House sources disclosed that Obama only holds luncheons there for visitors of the highest stature, with the goal of making the meetings friendlier and more productive. King Abdullah's comment at the end of his speech before the president, when he praised the American journalists on hand, received great attention. The King said to the journalists, “May Allah give us your bounties and ward off your mischief.” This comment added more warmth to the atmosphere of the meeting; Obama replied with a laugh and told the journalists, “We are proud about what King Abdullah Bin Aziz has said, for it is a prayer for you.”From the summit The meeting focused on economic cooperation between the two countries, discussion of the peace process and the Iranian nuclear crisis and the threat it poses to the region's security. The two leaders also discussed American policy in Afghanistan following the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the International Forces in Afghanistan, and national-security efforts in the two countries, including the campaign against Al-Qaeda. Sources said King Abdullah asked President Obama to strive to lift the siege imposed on Gaza and urged him to take a tougher stance toward Israel due to continued expansion of settlements. The Arab Peace Initiative was also a substantial part of the conversation. Economic matters had a strong presence in the summit, especially because the US remains Saudi Arabia's biggest trade partner, despite the Kingdom's growing trade with Japan, China and European countries. Asian companies have won contracts within the Saudi investment plan to diversify the Saudi economy, whose volume has reached $400 billion.
