Obama, US defence chief arrive in Saudi Arabia

President Barack Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Salman and other leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Relations have become strained over the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) and the nuclear deal with Iran. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is on the trip with the president. Mr Carter said […]

President Barack Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Salman and other leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Relations have become strained over the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) and the nuclear deal with Iran.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is on the trip with the president.
Mr Carter said they would be seeking help with military and naval operations to counter Iran’s “destabilising activities” in the region.
Mr Obama will talks with King Salman on Wednesday and meet the leaders of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Thursday.
He will then travel to the UK and Germany.
The US support for the lifting of sanctions against Iran has damaged relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran’s biggest rival in the region.
And a bill that is being considered in the US at the moment could potentially allow American citizens to sue Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks.
The GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.