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Kerry Meets Saudi King to Smooth Relations Kerry Meets Saudis to Ease Tensions
(about 5 hours later)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Secretary of State John Kerry met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday in an effort to ease deepening tensions with the Saudis, longstanding allies over American policy in the Middle East.RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Secretary of State John Kerry met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday in an effort to ease deepening tensions with the Saudis, longstanding allies over American policy in the Middle East.
It was Mr. Kerry’s first meeting with the Saudi monarch since he became secretary of state, and the session took place amid more pronounced differences over Syria, Iran and Egypt.It was Mr. Kerry’s first meeting with the Saudi monarch since he became secretary of state, and the session took place amid more pronounced differences over Syria, Iran and Egypt.
In a news conference with Prince Saud al-Faisal, Mr. Kerry’s Saudi counterpart, after the meeting, Mr. Kerry sought to play down reports of a rift.In a news conference with Prince Saud al-Faisal, Mr. Kerry’s Saudi counterpart, after the meeting, Mr. Kerry sought to play down reports of a rift.
Mr. Kerry said President Obama had asked him to reassure Saudi Arabia that the United States remained committed to defending it against external threats. And he portrayed disagreements between the two countries as largely tactical. He also carefully avoided being drawn into the debate over whether women in Saudi Arabia should be allowed to drive.Mr. Kerry said President Obama had asked him to reassure Saudi Arabia that the United States remained committed to defending it against external threats. And he portrayed disagreements between the two countries as largely tactical. He also carefully avoided being drawn into the debate over whether women in Saudi Arabia should be allowed to drive.
The Saudi foreign minister took a similar approach, reading a statement that took exception to news media reports that Saudi-American relations had dramatically deteriorated.The Saudi foreign minister took a similar approach, reading a statement that took exception to news media reports that Saudi-American relations had dramatically deteriorated.
“A true relationship between friends is based on sincerity, candor and frankness, rather than mere courtesy,” his statement said. “With this perspective, it’s only natural that our policies and views might see agreement in some areas and disagreement in others.”“A true relationship between friends is based on sincerity, candor and frankness, rather than mere courtesy,” his statement said. “With this perspective, it’s only natural that our policies and views might see agreement in some areas and disagreement in others.”
In response to questions, however, Prince Saud acknowledged that the two sides did have some disagreements on objectives, which he did not identify, though he insisted that most of the differences concerned how to pursue those objectives.In response to questions, however, Prince Saud acknowledged that the two sides did have some disagreements on objectives, which he did not identify, though he insisted that most of the differences concerned how to pursue those objectives.
On Syria, Prince Saud said that both the United States and Saudi Arabia agree on the need for a Geneva peace conference and that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria should not have a role in play if a new transitional government is agreed upon.On Syria, Prince Saud said that both the United States and Saudi Arabia agree on the need for a Geneva peace conference and that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria should not have a role in play if a new transitional government is agreed upon.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Kerry sought to set a positive tone for the session when he described Saudi Arabia as “the senior player in the Arab world.”Earlier in the day, Mr. Kerry sought to set a positive tone for the session when he described Saudi Arabia as “the senior player in the Arab world.”
The Saudis have made their unhappiness clear over the Obama administration’s decisions to eschew airstrikes in Syria and to provide only limited military support to the Syrian opposition following an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb. Western and Arab critics of Mr. Assad, supported by information from a United Nations investigation, have blamed Mr. Assad’s forces for that attack.The Saudis have made their unhappiness clear over the Obama administration’s decisions to eschew airstrikes in Syria and to provide only limited military support to the Syrian opposition following an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb. Western and Arab critics of Mr. Assad, supported by information from a United Nations investigation, have blamed Mr. Assad’s forces for that attack.
Saudi leaders have also been increasingly concerned that the Obama administration may be overly eager to strike a bargain with Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, Iran, over its nuclear program.Saudi leaders have also been increasingly concerned that the Obama administration may be overly eager to strike a bargain with Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, Iran, over its nuclear program.
And the Saudis have been angered over what they view as insufficient American support for Egypt’s generals, who wrested power four months ago by deposing the president, Mohamed Morsi, the candidate of the Muslin Brotherhood.And the Saudis have been angered over what they view as insufficient American support for Egypt’s generals, who wrested power four months ago by deposing the president, Mohamed Morsi, the candidate of the Muslin Brotherhood.
In a Sunday news conference in Cairo, Mr. Kerry acknowledged there had been differences but sought to cast them as tactical in nature.In a Sunday news conference in Cairo, Mr. Kerry acknowledged there had been differences but sought to cast them as tactical in nature.
“There are some countries in the region that wanted the United States to do one thing with respect to Syria, and we have done something else,” Mr. Kerry said. “Those differences on an individual tactic on a policy do not create a difference on the fundamental goal of the policy. We all share the same goal that we have discussed; that is, the salvation of the state of Syria.”“There are some countries in the region that wanted the United States to do one thing with respect to Syria, and we have done something else,” Mr. Kerry said. “Those differences on an individual tactic on a policy do not create a difference on the fundamental goal of the policy. We all share the same goal that we have discussed; that is, the salvation of the state of Syria.”
Most analysis agree, however, that the differences between the United States and Saudi Arabia have widened considerably in recent years.Most analysis agree, however, that the differences between the United States and Saudi Arabia have widened considerably in recent years.
King Abdullah wants to stop the wide-scale killing of his fellow Sunni Muslims in Syria and, more broadly, sees the Syria conflict as a test of wills in Saudi Arabia’s struggle against Iranian influence in the region.King Abdullah wants to stop the wide-scale killing of his fellow Sunni Muslims in Syria and, more broadly, sees the Syria conflict as a test of wills in Saudi Arabia’s struggle against Iranian influence in the region.
The Obama administration’s decision to promote the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria has done little, in the Saudi view, toward fulfilling these objectives.The Obama administration’s decision to promote the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria has done little, in the Saudi view, toward fulfilling these objectives.
And as much as Mr. Kerry has touted the importance of a holding a peace conference in Geneva, most experts say President Assad is unlikely to relinquish power unless military pressure on his government is increased.And as much as Mr. Kerry has touted the importance of a holding a peace conference in Geneva, most experts say President Assad is unlikely to relinquish power unless military pressure on his government is increased.
Saudi unhappiness with the international response to Syria, and with American policy, was graphically illustrated when it turned down a seat last month on the United Nations Security Council.Saudi unhappiness with the international response to Syria, and with American policy, was graphically illustrated when it turned down a seat last month on the United Nations Security Council.