Obama's chilly reception in Saudi Arabia hints at mutual distrust

[zenitzz]

Barack Obama arrived to a noticeably low-key reception in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday against a background of mutual irritation in a relationship tested by a turbulent Middle East, plummeting oil prices and economic and political uncertainty.

The US president was greeted at the airport by the governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, and the event was not broadcast live on Saudi TV, as is routine with visiting heads of state – quickly generating talk of a snub.

Underlining the coolness, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, accompanied by other senior figures, was shown earlier on state television greeting the leaders of neighbouring states on the tarmac – ahead of Thursday’s summit of the six-member, Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation council, which Obama is to address.

Shortly afterwards King Salman greeted Obama in the opulent surroundings of the capital’s al-Auja palace, where they posed for a photo opportunity and exchanged stilted formal remarks before a two hour meeting .

“The American people send their greetings and we are very grateful for your hospitality, not just for this meeting but for hosting the GCC-US summit that’s taking place tomorrow, Obama said. Salman responded: “I and the Saudi people are very pleased that you, Mr President, are visiting us.”

Official pictures also showed Obama shaking hands with the king’s son and deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the embodiment of newly assertive Saudi policies in Yemen and the architect of far-reaching economic reforms necessitated by diminishing oil revenues.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/20/barack-obama-saudi-arabia-visit-king-salman-relationship

[1714185096]

1714185096

[1714185096]

1714185096

[Moloch]

And this whole time I thought King Salmon was a type of fish

Learn something new every day

[Spendulus]

Barack Obama arrived to a noticeably low-key reception in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday .....

What?  He's not bowing enough?

[TECSHARE]

And this whole time I thought King Salmon was a type of fish

Learn something new every day

That's racist!

[alyssa85]

Obama called them "so-called allies" when he was running for POTUS in 2008, and they're probably cross that he hasn't bowed to their demands to a) send American troops to Syria and b) continue to freeze out the Iranians.

[Slowturtleinc]

He has sent a few Countries in the Middle East mixed messages,so its not shocker he is being dealt with luke warm hands.
Desperate for some kind of legacy he has pinned it on Cuba and Iran to make him unique. Otherwise he brought nothing to the table.

[bryant.coleman]

The Saudis can't be fooled anymore, unlike the situation that existed during the 1980s and 1990s. Saudi Arabia suffered for decades as a vassal state of the United States. Most of the petrodollars were getting eaten up by the American corporations, and in return the Saudis were given soon-to-be-worthless US treasury bonds. They don't want to be vassals to the Americans anymore. The roles will be flipped, very soon.

[stevegreer]

Aw, poor Barry. No one was there to stroke his enlarged ego.

[Slowturtleinc]

Read Obama promised weapons to shore up their defences. Wonder what agreements where made behind the scenes if they so openly talked about the Iran threat!