Today, a joint statement was issued between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, which reads as follows:
Joint Statement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America
1 – At the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump of the United States of America paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from Saturday 8/24/1438 AH corresponding to May 20, 2017 AD to Monday 8/26 / 1438 AH corresponding to May 22, 2017 AD.
2 – During the visit, the two leaders reviewed the well-established historical and strategic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, which have grown and deepened over the past eight decades in the political, economic, cultural, military, security, energy and other fields. The two leaders noted that the two countries have developed a fruitful partnership based on trust, cooperation and common interests.
3 – They also praised the contribution of this visit to strengthening relations between the two countries, to achieve more stability, security and prosperity, and the two leaders declared that they stand together to confront common enemies, deepen the existing ties between them and chart a path to peace and prosperity for all.
4 – The two leaders agreed on a new strategic partnership for the 21st century in the interest of the two countries, through the official announcement of the joint strategic vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, which charts a new path towards a peaceful Middle East where economic development, trade and diplomacy are the features of regional and international action.
5 – The two countries announced their plan to form a joint strategic consultative group hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US President, or whoever represents them from among the appropriate officials, to chart the course of this strategic partnership.
6 – The two countries agreed that the joint strategic consultative group would meet at least once a year, alternately between the two countries, to review areas of cooperation.
7 – The two countries share the desire to confront threats to their common security interests, and have resolved – for this purpose – to work on new initiatives to counter violent extremist rhetoric, disrupt terrorist financing, and enhance defense cooperation.
8 – The two sides declared their desire to expand cooperation and their hope that responsible governments that wish to commit to peace will build on these efforts to achieve these goals. And sow the seeds of peace.
9 – The two countries noted that creating a unified and strong regional security structure is extremely necessary for their cooperation, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America intend to expand their work with other countries in the region in the coming years to identify new areas of cooperation.
10 – The two countries welcomed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding achieved during this visit, which will benefit the peoples of the two countries with prosperity and development, and benefit the future of future generations, and the region with security and stability.
11 – The two leaders noted the volume of growing trade exchange between the two countries and the advanced level it has reached, joint investments in economic and infrastructure projects, and the provision of facilities and incentives for these investments.
12 – He also praised what their strategic partnership, in addition to economic and investment cooperation, would achieve in terms of generating many qualitative jobs in both countries.
13 – The two leaders stressed the importance of investment in the field of energy by companies in the two countries, and the importance of coordinating policies that ensure market stability and abundant supplies.
14 – The two leaders discussed the close cooperation between the two countries to ensure the preservation of maritime security, including the protection of the safety of navigation in the important international waterways, especially the Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz.
15- They affirmed their determination to eliminate ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist organizations, and to combat terrorism with all tools.
16- They expressed the commitment of their two countries to vigorously confront the attempts of terrorist organizations to give false legitimacy to their crimes, and to confront the roots of terrorist ideology.
17 – They renewed their commitment to broad security cooperation and exchange of information in a way that serves their interests and preserves their security. 18- They also renewed their commitment to limiting the flow of foreign fighters and cutting off the supply of funding to terrorist organizations.
19- They commended the achievements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in detecting (276) terrorist operations and thwarting them before carrying them out, including operations directed against the United States of America and friendly countries.
20- His Excellency US President Donald Trump praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting the attempts of terrorist organizations to target the Kingdom, pointing to the failed attempts of terrorist organizations to cause a rift in the relations between the two countries, and that the Kingdom was one of the first countries to suffer from terrorism, as it was exposed since 1992 to more than From (100) terrorist operations.
21- The two leaders affirmed their determination to unite and integrate efforts between the international coalition against ISIS, which is led by the United States of America, with the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the one hand, and the Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, which is led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the other hand.
22- The two leaders also agreed on the need to contain Iran's evil interference in the internal affairs of other countries, its ignition of sectarian strife, its support for terrorism and armed mediators, and its efforts to destabilize the countries of the region.
23- The two leaders also stressed that Iranian interference poses a threat to the security of the region and the world, and that the nuclear agreement concluded with Iran needs to be reviewed in some of its provisions, and that the Iranian ballistic missile program does not only pose a threat to neighboring countries; Rather, it constitutes a direct threat to the security of all countries in the region and international security.
24- The two sides also stressed the importance of reaching a comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and the two leaders pledged to do everything in their power to encourage the creation of an atmosphere conducive to achieving peace.
25- The two sides stressed the need to work to resolve the Yemeni crisis, and President Trump praised the relief and humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Yemeni people.
26- With regard to the crisis in Syria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its support for the decision taken by His Excellency US President Donald Trump to launch missiles at the Shayrat base from which the Syrian regime launched its chemical attack on the Khan Sheikhoun area, and the two sides expressed the importance of the Syrian regime's commitment to the agreement it concluded in 2013. with the international community to get rid of all chemical weapons in Syria, and the two sides stressed the importance of reaching a permanent solution to the conflict in Syria on the basis of the Geneva Declaration, and Security Council Resolution No. sectarian discrimination.
27- The two leaders expressed their support for the efforts of the Iraqi government to eliminate ISIS, unite the home front to fight terrorism, which represents a threat to all Iraqis, preserve Iraq's unity and territorial integrity, and the importance of stopping Iranian interference in Iraq's internal affairs. The two sides noted the importance of relations between the Kingdom and Iraq and the endeavor to develop them.
28- On the Lebanese issue, the two sides stressed the importance of supporting the Lebanese state to extend its sovereignty over all its lands, to disarm terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, and to place all weapons under the legitimate supervision of the Lebanese army.
Okaz (Riyadh)