Saudi Gazette report

WASHINGTON — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored the depth and longevity of Saudi–U.S. relations during a White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, saying the Kingdom “feels at home” in America’s warm reception.

“Thank you for the warm and great welcome that we have today, we feel home,” the Crown Prince said in remarks celebrating the decades-long alliance between the two nations.

He noted that the relationship dates back nearly nine decades to the historic meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz, founder of modern Saudi Arabia.

“This relation started around close to nine decades ago with Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz who established the modern Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The Crown Prince pointed to upcoming national milestones, with the United States approaching its 250th anniversary and Saudi Arabia preparing to mark 300 years since its establishment.

“America was almost celebrating 250 years of establishment. And also in two years we will celebrate in Saudi Arabia 300 years,” he said.

Reviewing the history of cooperation between the two countries, he said Saudi Arabia played a major role in supplying oil during World War II and worked closely with Washington during the Cold War and in countering extremism. At the same time, he said both nations advanced “a lot of economical opportunities.”

“But today it's a special day,” the Crown Prince added, emphasizing that the horizon of economic cooperation “is bigger and wider in many areas” than ever before.

“We've been signing a lot of agreement that opened the door to develop the relation deeper in many areas and we're going to work on it. We believe the opportunities is huge,” he said, stressing that both countries will focus on implementation and expanding joint opportunities.