RIYADH: A senior American diplomat has reassured the Kingdom about America’s continuing commitment to strong and robust relations regardless of the changes one may see after the US administration is led by Donald Trump.
Christopher Henzel, deputy chief of mission at the Riyadh-based US Embassy, said that the Saudi-US partnership “will remain strong.”
“This partnership is driven by the interests of both countries, and is sustained by the dense network of relationships and cooperation that has developed over the past 80 years,” said Henzel, while speaking during an election night reception hosted by the US Embassy here on Tuesday. “In just one example of this important partnership, General Joseph F. Dunford, the most senior officer of American military is visiting Riyadh,” he added.
The diplomat said that Dunford is currently here continuing the high-level coordination that has long sustained the security relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US. “Senior coordination like this is not restricted to the military part only; rather it is typical of the high-level cooperation between our two governments across a wide range of issues — on critical regional matters, on trade, investment, agriculture, education — in short, throughout a strong and mature relationship that benefits both our countries,” he added.
Henzel, who has spent most of his career specializing in the Arab and Muslim worlds and their affairs, said that he is confident that the strong relationship “will continue.”
Referring to the result of the US presidential election, he said that “some aspects of the electoral systems in the US can be difficult to understand, even for Americans.”
Each American state sets its own rules for elections. In some states, there are electronic voting machines, in some a paper ballot is marked with an X, and in some places voting takes place by mail, he explained.
The diplomat said that “many of us have been able to observe political systems around the world, and we understand that each society develops its own political culture, shaped by the history and current conditions in each country.”
The diplomat added: “Now we are seeing the American political system, shaped by our history, in action, and we are glad that you, our friends, are with us to watch it.”
A large number of American and Saudi guests, including businessmen and senior executives and the media, attended the “America Votes 2016 Reception,” at the embassy’s premises in Riyadh.
On the sidelines of the reception, interactive sessions with a group of guests were organized at six round tables to help answer questions about the voting mechanism and other aspects of the US political system.
Christopher Henzel, deputy chief of mission at the Riyadh-based US Embassy, said that the Saudi-US partnership “will remain strong.”
“This partnership is driven by the interests of both countries, and is sustained by the dense network of relationships and cooperation that has developed over the past 80 years,” said Henzel, while speaking during an election night reception hosted by the US Embassy here on Tuesday. “In just one example of this important partnership, General Joseph F. Dunford, the most senior officer of American military is visiting Riyadh,” he added.
The diplomat said that Dunford is currently here continuing the high-level coordination that has long sustained the security relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US. “Senior coordination like this is not restricted to the military part only; rather it is typical of the high-level cooperation between our two governments across a wide range of issues — on critical regional matters, on trade, investment, agriculture, education — in short, throughout a strong and mature relationship that benefits both our countries,” he added.
Henzel, who has spent most of his career specializing in the Arab and Muslim worlds and their affairs, said that he is confident that the strong relationship “will continue.”
Referring to the result of the US presidential election, he said that “some aspects of the electoral systems in the US can be difficult to understand, even for Americans.”
Each American state sets its own rules for elections. In some states, there are electronic voting machines, in some a paper ballot is marked with an X, and in some places voting takes place by mail, he explained.
The diplomat said that “many of us have been able to observe political systems around the world, and we understand that each society develops its own political culture, shaped by the history and current conditions in each country.”
The diplomat added: “Now we are seeing the American political system, shaped by our history, in action, and we are glad that you, our friends, are with us to watch it.”
A large number of American and Saudi guests, including businessmen and senior executives and the media, attended the “America Votes 2016 Reception,” at the embassy’s premises in Riyadh.
On the sidelines of the reception, interactive sessions with a group of guests were organized at six round tables to help answer questions about the voting mechanism and other aspects of the US political system.
