Washington: Saudi King Salman phoned US President Barack Obama on Monday to “express his regret” for missing a high-profile summit at the White House and Camp David this week, and review the agenda for the meeting with Gulf leaders, the White House said.
The leaders agreed they need to work with other Gulf states “to build a collective capacity to address more effectively the range of threats facing the region and to resolve regional conflicts,” the White House said, noting the leaders agreed on the need for urgent humanitarian aid in Yemen.
Obama and the king reviewed the agenda for the meeting and agreed on the need to work closely to fight collectively in the most effective way against the threats facing the Middle East.
With regard to the situation in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been undertaking air strikes against Al Houthi rebels backed by Iran, Obama “congratulated” the king on the ceasefire implemented by the Saudi army there and they agreed on the need to resolve the “urgent humanitarian” situation.
The US administration wants to welcome a large Saudi delegation, said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, in a phone press conference.
