Americas...:Obama Meets new Saudi King to Shore up Ties

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US President Barack Obama led a heavyweight delegation to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet new King Salman and shore up ties that have suffered in recent years.

The longstanding allies remain bound by shared interests in regional stability and oil.

Since last year Saudi Arabia has been part of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the ""ISIL" terrorist group.

Members of the US delegation, which crossed party lines and included former Bush-era officials, said they wanted to show support for the US-Saudi relationship.

"I believe it is important that we demonstrate to the Saudis the importance that they represent to us," said James Baker, secretary of state during the first Gulf War against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

"This is an extraordinarily critical and sensitive time in the Middle East when everything seems to be falling apart. And the kingdom in some way is becoming an island of stability," said Baker.
Obama and his 29-member delegation arrived for a four-hour stop from India where he cut short a state visit following the death of Salman's predecessor, King Abdullah, on Friday.
Saudi television showed Salman, 79, welcoming Obama and his wife Michelle at the bottom of a red-carpeted ramp before a military band played the US and Saudi national anthems.

Salman's heir Crown Prince Moqren and Mohammed bin Nayef, the powerful interior minister who is second in line to the throne, were among those greeting the Americans.
"Good to see you," Obama repeatedly said to his Saudi hosts before they dined on Arabic and Western dishes.

Authorities deployed armored vehicles, police cars and radar throughout the city to secure Obama's visit.
Obama last visited Saudi Arabia in March, when he held talks with Abdullah.
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the new trip was an "opportunity to both pay respects to the legacy of King Abdullah, who was a close partner with the United States and also to touch base on some of the issues where we're working together with the Saudis," which include the "ISIL" terrorist group, Yemen, and the Iranian nuclear negotiations.

Baker, who served under president George Bush, said there are "some problems" in the US-Saudi relationship.
"But we will be in a hell of a lot better shape to handle those problems if the relationship is as strong again as it was when I was in office," he said, adding that he has always thought of Salman as "very pro-U.S." and a "no nonsense guy."

Former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft and Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state under George W. Bush, joined the US contingent which included current Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan and General Lloyd Austin, head of US Central Command.

They had all accompanied Obama to India but Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator John McCain joined the president especially for his Saudi trip.

McCain, a Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, claimed the kingdom was emerging "as the major bulwark" against efforts by Iran to expand its influence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain.

"There is no doubt that the Iranians are on the move," McCain said.

Obama is the latest leader to visit Riyadh since Friday.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team