JEDDAH: The visit to the United States by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is of strategic importance to both nations, according to a report by an online publication on Wednesday.
Prince Mohammed is expected to meet US President Barack Obama, leaders of Congress, and several ministers to discuss topics including defense, foreign affairs, trade, culture and technology, the report stated.
This is his third visit to the US since he was appointed deputy crown prince, after his participation in the Camp David summit in May 2015. He then visited the country with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in September last year.
After Washington, Prince Mohammad will visit California and New York to meet business leaders, including chief executives of some of the world’s leading companies, to discuss possible partnerships
Several senior officials and experts were quoted as saying by the publication that there was “huge American eagerness” over this trip. The US knows that the young prince is one of the most powerful people in the Kingdom through his extensive interviews with Bloomberg and The Economist over the past year.
Brian Katulis of the Center for American Progress, who was an official on the National Security Council during the presidency of Bill Clinton, reportedly said that the Kingdom and the United States have common interests on the political and economic fronts.
Christine Diwan, an expert at the Arabian Gulf Academy in Washington, said that the timing of the visit shows that it is directly related to Vision 2030 and part of the Saudi government’s economic plan, which is aimed at building bridges with Americans.
Diwan said that the “foundations of the Saudi-American partnership is 70 years old. It is solid and strong. There is also cooperation in the security area. However, there are differences over ways to deal with what is happening in the Arab world and the position on Iran.”
She said these relations were further deepened by King Salman’s visit last year, when more than 20 memorandums of understanding were signed for further education and economic cooperation. This has eased the way for further American investments in the Kingdom.
Sources were quoted as saying that the deputy crown prince would grant interviews to several American media houses so that he can get his message across to the American public. Members of the delegation accompanying him would also meet with those contesting the current presidential election, particularly with Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.
Prince Mohammed is expected to meet US President Barack Obama, leaders of Congress, and several ministers to discuss topics including defense, foreign affairs, trade, culture and technology, the report stated.
This is his third visit to the US since he was appointed deputy crown prince, after his participation in the Camp David summit in May 2015. He then visited the country with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in September last year.
After Washington, Prince Mohammad will visit California and New York to meet business leaders, including chief executives of some of the world’s leading companies, to discuss possible partnerships
Several senior officials and experts were quoted as saying by the publication that there was “huge American eagerness” over this trip. The US knows that the young prince is one of the most powerful people in the Kingdom through his extensive interviews with Bloomberg and The Economist over the past year.
Brian Katulis of the Center for American Progress, who was an official on the National Security Council during the presidency of Bill Clinton, reportedly said that the Kingdom and the United States have common interests on the political and economic fronts.
Christine Diwan, an expert at the Arabian Gulf Academy in Washington, said that the timing of the visit shows that it is directly related to Vision 2030 and part of the Saudi government’s economic plan, which is aimed at building bridges with Americans.
Diwan said that the “foundations of the Saudi-American partnership is 70 years old. It is solid and strong. There is also cooperation in the security area. However, there are differences over ways to deal with what is happening in the Arab world and the position on Iran.”
She said these relations were further deepened by King Salman’s visit last year, when more than 20 memorandums of understanding were signed for further education and economic cooperation. This has eased the way for further American investments in the Kingdom.
Sources were quoted as saying that the deputy crown prince would grant interviews to several American media houses so that he can get his message across to the American public. Members of the delegation accompanying him would also meet with those contesting the current presidential election, particularly with Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.
