Obama in Riyadh holds talks with King Salman

President Barack Obama arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday at the head of a heavyweight delegation including senior U.S. officials to meet the new Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

King Salman greeted Obama, who was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, soon after Air Force One touched down at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Obama, who arrived after cutting short a trip to India, was greeted by a military honor guard and later a military band played the national anthems of the two countries, which have enjoyed more than 80 years of bi-lateral relations.

Saudi reception

King Salman headed a large reception of senior Saudi officials welcoming Obama, who has visited the Saudi kingdom as U.S. president on two previous occasions.

Obama was received by Saudi Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh Province Governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Royal Protocol President Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Tubaishi, Saudi Ambassador to the United Sates Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir and U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Joseph Westphal.

Later, at Erga Palace in Riyadh, the U.S. and Saudi delegations chatted as they sat on chairs placed around the walls of a large room.

U.S. delegation

Obama arrived in Riyadh at the head of a large delegation, which included senior officials from past and present administrations, members of the U.S. Congress – both Republican and Democrat – and top U.S. security officials, signaling the strong ties between the two states.

Joining Obama in paying respects over the death of King Abdullah was Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived on a separate flight from Germany, as well as Republican statesmen James Baker, who served as secretary of state in the George H.W. Bush administration, and Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state for President George W. Bush.

CIA Director John Brennan, Lisa Monaco, Obama’s counterterrorism adviser and Susan Rice, the U.S. National Security adviser.

Former security officials Stephen Hadley, a former U.S. National Security adviser, and Brent Scowcroft, national security advisor to presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush were also listed as part of the delegation.

Members from both ends of the U.S. political spectrum also took part in the visit, including Democrat Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senator John McCain, who is often critical of Obama’s foreign policy.