Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's King Salman will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Sept. 4, the White House said. It will be the Saudi King's first visit to the United States since ascending the throne in January and follows his decision to skip a U.S. summit of Gulf Arab leaders that Obama hosted in May.
The trip will come less than two weeks before a possible U.S. congressional vote on last month's landmark nuclear agreement between six world powers and Iran, Riyadh's regional rival. "His visit underscores the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Thursday aboard Air Force One, adding that the talks would be aimed a strengthening ties.
"The two leaders will discuss Syria, Yemen and "steps to counter Iran's destabilising activities in the region," Earnest told reporters.