1. Moments in Milestones: King Abdul Aziz-President Roosevelt meet (1945); King Abdullah-President Bush (2008); King Abdullah-President Obama (2009 & 2014). Relationship has stayed fresh for eight decades.

2. Productive Ties: US, KSA are working on many of the critical bilateral and regional issues, including Syrian crisis, Iran’s N-program, combating extremism and ME peace.

3. Time-Tested: The friendship has weathered many storms, including regional and global conflicts and crises like 9/11 and Gulf War. The ties span the fields of politics, economics, education, technology and other areas of human endeavor.

4. Business: Flourished in the area of trade, with both countries exchanging commodities and oil. US exports to Riyadh exceeded $35 billion in 2013.

5. Gulf Security: The two defense forces regularly participate in joint exercises.

6. Educational Programs: About 80,000 Saudi students are studying in US, making them the 4th largest group of foreign students there. The grooming future.

7. Science & Technology: KACST is working with NASA on several projects including the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and space geodesy and geodynamics research.

8. Ties of Necessity: If Saudi oil runs US, American eateries in Kingdom are in much demand. The street’s demands!

9. Strategic Relationship: There shouldn’t be ifs and buts when it comes to relationship with the Kingdom, as Riyadh holds the key to peace in the region and is gateway to the Muslim world. US understands it.

10. Weathering crises: Diplomatic visits between the two countries have often narrowed disagreements. What’s important is honesty in and commitment to diplomatic ties.

10 Things about Obama’s March 29 visit

1. King Abdullah and President Obama had a two-hour meeting.

2. The visit was to accentuate the strategic relationship.

3. Diplomatically important, as the meeting was held in the backdrop of heightened tension in the ME region.

4. The two leaders agreed to remain united on a range of bilateral issues.

5. President Obama underlined growing relations in diverse fields.

6. US understands the relationship means business. If US has global obligations, Riyadh has its own regional tempest to deal with.

7. Differences were discussed and narrowed.

8. US acknowledges Kingdom’s pivotal role in the Gulf and the wider Arab world.

9. Before leaving, President Obama honored a Saudi woman activist.

10. One may hope the talks go a long way in shaping ME’s future politics.