As for the meeting, Obama and King Salman discussed the war against ISIS, with the Saudi Arabian leader also pledging his commitment to provide humanitarian aid in Yemen, where hostilities have recently ended.
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President Obama said neither the United States nor Arab Gulf nations had an interest in conflict with Iran.
His brief visit, though, illustrated the limits of what can be achieved when Gulf budgets are stretched by a slump in oil prices and the region is eagerly looking beyond Obama to his successor.
U.S President Barack Obama said Gulf countries in the Middle East must be able to work together despite their differences, whether that is dealing with Iran or maintaining a stable, unified government within a country such as Iraq.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday pledged to remain vigilant against Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East as he tried to comfort his Gulf allies, APA reports quoting Xinhua.
King Salman offered similarly gracious words for the president, who is paying his fourth trip here for face-to-face meetings and photos with royal rulers since becoming president.
The Saudi delegation that attended the summit also included Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior; Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense; Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir; President of the General Intelligence Khalid Al-Humaidan, Saudi Ambassador to US Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal, and Minister of State and Cabinet Member Dr. Musaed Bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.
“Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia is for reassurance about Iran in the first place, yet his administration is going through a “lame duck” stage, and so it can not make a significant change in the US policy in the Arab world”, said al-Lawindi.
Obama, in meetings with Saudi King Salman, the ruling emirs of Qatar and Kuwait and others, appealed for more financial and political support to help Iraq.
Obama has said he opposes the bill because it could expose the United States to lawsuits from citizens of other countries.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama says he’s concerned about Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s grip on power but calls him a good partner.
“Even with the nuclear deal we recognise collectively that we continue to have serious concerns about Iranian behaviour”, he said. “Now is not the time for government gridlock or bickering”.
“They’ve got a lot on their plate”, Obama said.
The president’s hopes of winding down US military engagement in the Mideast have repeatedly been confounded by conflicts that have flared in countries struggling to contain extremists. In addition to the Islamic State, the talks are also expected to address the Saudi-led military campaign against Shiite rebels and their allies in neighboring Yemen.
The US president’s assurances to the leaders of the region may not be fully shared by his successor to the White House.
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Schreck reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
