US President Obama meets Saudi King Salman

US President Barack Obama met the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to seek joint action on security threats.

The American president has come to Saudi Arabia for a fourth and likely last time, hoping to reassure King Salman and other Gulf leaders, whom he will meet on Thursday, of Washington's commitment to their security. 

Obama has spoken of his desire to persuade Gulf countries to focus on what he sees as a greater threat emanating from IS.

After arrival in Riyadh, Obama met King Salman and a group of top princes and officials at the Erga palace for a two-hour meeting.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan were among Obama's entourage, demonstrating the focus on security in the president's agenda with his Gulf counterparts.

On Thursday, he will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Before Obama met King Salman, in an ornate room in a Riyadh palace, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter had talks with his Gulf Arab counterparts on ways of countering fighting the IS group.

They agreed on joint cooperation towards improving Gulf missile defence, special forces and maritime security, but no new deals were announced.

The GCC secretary general said the bloc and the United States would stage joint maritime patrols. American officials said these were already taking place and did not represent a new step.

Obama's words of reassurance follow a series of top-level meetings between US and Gulf officials in recent years in which Washington aimed to get across the same message.

He and King Salman last met in the United States in September, a meeting that followed a Camp David summit with Gulf leaders in May.

Saudi television earlier broadcast Gulf leaders being welcomed on the runway by King Salman and a host of other officials.

Obama is set to meet with the leaders of Britain, France and Italy in Hanover on Monday with IS and other security issues high on the agenda.

Source: Timesofoman