Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Saudi Arabia, said ties between the two nations are “strategic” and “enduring”. There were “no differences” between them on Syria, Kerry said.
US ties with its long-standing ally have been frayed by the Syrian conflict and recent US policy on Iran. Speaking at a joint news conference with Kerry, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal also played down recent tensions.
The prince described the two nations as “friendly countries” with a relationship based on “sincerity, candour and frankness,” according to Associated Press.
“The Saudis are very, very important to all of us. The Saudis are really the senior player in the Arab world together with Egypt,” Kerry said before he met King Abdullah.
Kerry’s mission in Riyadh was to soothe Saudi disgruntlement over the Obama administration’s policies on Syria and Iran. The Secretary is due in Israel Tuesday night, before meeting Mahmoud Abbas in Bais Lechem Wednesday.
{Andy Heller-Matzav.com Newscenter}
