The Bush Administration's high level consultations with the Saudi leadership on pressing regional security issues, especially in Iraq and Iran, continued with the January 17 visit of Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the Kingdom just days behind Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's meeting with King Abdullah and other top officials. Gates stop in Saudi Arabia, on a day that began for him in Afghanistan and ended in Bahrain, was the first visit by a US Defense Secretary since Donald Rumsfeld was in the Kingdom in April 2003. Among the officials present when Gates met with King Abdullah were Saudi Defense Minister Crown Prince Sultan and Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz. The talks were said to focus particular attention to checking Iranian regional ambitions with Gates noting that the United States "can always use Saudi cooperation on these issues" in response to a question about support from the Kingdom.

This SUSRIS IOI provides an overview of Gates' talks in Saudi Arabia and a collection of links to related news reports.

Saudi King, Gates Discuss Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 17, 2007 � Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan dominated conversations between Saudi King Abdullah and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates here today. 

Gates arrived here from a visit to Afghanistan. He met with the Saudi monarch at a hunting lodge outside the capital, a senior defense official speaking on background said. Crown Prince Sultan also participated in the meeting. 

Gates briefed the Saudi leaders on observations from his visit to Afghanistan and spoke about the steps being taken to counter an expected Taliban spring offensive there, the official said. 

Gates assured the Saudis that President Bush is committed to making the new way forward in Iraq work. �They welcomed this,� the official said. �They clearly want the U.S. to succeed (in Iraq). That�s the bottom line.� 

The Saudi leaders are clearly worried about Iraqi politics, the official said, but �they wanted to hear reassurances from us that we have a strategy, and they expressed their strong hope that we succeed.� 

The U.S. position is that the Iraqi government deserves support, �and (the Saudi leaders) basically accept that,� he said. 

The Saudis tend to see the situation in Iraq through the lens of new challenges Iran poses to the region, the official said. �The secretary reassured them that we want an Iraq that is a barrier against Iranian expansion,� he said. 

In that context, he said, the United States wants Arab allies to help Iraq. 

Source: US Dept of Defense

Related Items

• Conversation in Riyadh - Secretary of State Rice and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal Press Conference - SUSRIS IOI - Jan 16, 2007

• Gates assures Saudi king on Iraq: US defense official - AFP - Jan 17, 2007

• Gates, Middle Eastern Leaders� Discussions Highlight Concerns Over Iran - AFPS - Jan 18, 2007

• Gates arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran - Reuters - Jan 17, 2007

• Gates, Saudi King Meet at Airport - NPR - Jan 17, 2007 [Audio]

• Gates Assures Saudi King On Iraq: US Defense Official - MediaFax - Jan 18, 2007

• Gates: Iranians 'Overplaying Their Hand' - AP - Jan 18, 2007

• Gates, Commanders Ready Buildup in Gulf - AP - Jan 18, 2007