U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay his respects after the death of King Abdullah, a trip that underscores the importance of a U.S.-Saudi alliance that extends beyond oil interests to regional security.
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters Mr. Obama wanted to discuss with the new Saudi King Salman the fight against Islamic State, the volatile situation in Yemen and talks on ending a long-running dispute about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"We do believe that Saudi policy will remain quite similar to how it's been under King Abdullah," he said, adding Mr. Obama wanted to forge the same kind of "close relationship" with King Salman as he had with his predecessor
King Salman led an honour guard of senior Saudi princes and officials to greet the Obamas as they disembarked, including the crown prince and deputy crown prince and the kingdom's veteran Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi.
