Crown Prince embarks on historic US visit

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, left Riyadh on Monday for Washington on an official visit to the United States. This was in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Royal Court said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

During the visit, the Crown Prince will meet President Donald Trump and a number of high ranking US officials to discuss ways to further enhance bilateral relations.

The meeting between Trump and Crown Prince Muhammad on Tuesday will focus on all issues of concern beginning with the agreement to confront Iran and its meddling in the affairs of the region’s countries, according to Al Arabiya.

Other topics on the agenda of talks include amendment to the Iranian nuclear deal, forcing the Houthi militias to accept negotiations in Yemen, finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, reviving the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and combating terror and those supporting and funding it.

In a related development, the US Charge d'Affaires in Riyadh Christopher Henzel voiced confidence over the success of Tuesday’s meeting between Trump and the Crown Prince, noting that the discussions between the two sides will be open and frank on a number of issues that confirm the extent of the maturity of the joint friendship between the two countries. “The fruitful visit would contribute to enhancing the strong and deep-rooted bilateral ties,” he said in a press statement issued by the US embassy in Riyadh.