US envoy to Saudi named as Barack Obama’s top defence official

Washington: President Barack Obama is nominating a top Defence Department official to become the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The White House announcement on Wednesday comes as tensions mount between the two countries over Obama administration policy toward Syria, Iran and Egypt.

Obama says he intends to nominate Joseph William Westphal to fill the critical Middle Eastern diplomatic post. Westphal has been undersecretary of the Army since 2009. The current US ambassador is Air Force general James B. Smith, who was appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama.