According to a White House statement, the officials - joined by U.S. Vice President Biden, discussed a joint “approach to strategic messaging to counter extremism.”
The meeting was held in the Oval Office and was closed to the press. It also focused on U.S.-Saudi cooperation on conflicts in Yemen, the White House said.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia joined the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, which has striked militant targets in Iraq and Syria, where the extremists have claimed swaths of territory after declaring an Islamic “Caliphate” in June.
President Barack Obama of the United States of America expressed his appreciation to the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in maintaining peace and regional security, as well as its humanitarian support for the displaced people by the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and the Kingdom's contribution to anti-ISIS international coalition, stressing the importance of undermining the ISIS extremist thought and delegitimize it, and commending Kingdom's contribution to global efforts to combat Ebola.
US National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said that the meeting discussed the fight against the dangers of terrorism and consultation on regional security issues.
The statement added that President Obama discussed with Prince Mohammed bin Naif, the regional issues concerning Iran and the need to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict in Syria.
With regard to Yemen and pursuant to the talks which took place on 10th December between Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Assistant to the US President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, President Obama and Prince Mohammed bin Naif emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation in countering the dangers of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the support for the President of Republic of Yemen, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi; Prime Minister Khalid Mahfouz Bahah and the new legitimate Yemeni government in their efforts to achieve stability through the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s initiative, national dialogue, peace agreement and, national partnership.
On 09 December, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz separately met at his residence in Washington with the Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James B. Comey, as well as U. S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.
Both meetings were attended by Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir and the delegation accompanying the Interior Minister. On the American side, it was attended by U. S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Joseph W. Westphal and the delegations accompanying both U.S. offficials.
Meanwhile, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the Saudi National Guard, received at his office in Riyadh on 10 December Commander of US Central Command General Lloyd J. Austin, and his accompanying delegation.
During the meeting, they reviewed issues of mutual interest and the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
Source: SPA
