Obama Credits Deceased Saudi King Abdullah As Key U.S. Ally in the Middle East

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U.S. ally Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died early Friday at 1:00 AM local time, at the age of 90 after being hospitalized in Riyadh for pneumonia.

President Obama issued a statement on the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in which he credited the King with the closeness and partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, “The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah’s legacy.”

The President’s full statement is as follows:

It is with deep respect that I express my personal condolences and the sympathies of the American people to the family of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and to the people of Saudi Arabia.

King Abdullah’s life spanned from before the birth of modern Saudi Arabia through its emergence as a critical force within the global economy and a leader among Arab and Islamic nations. He took bold steps in advancing the Arab Peace Initiative, an endeavor that will outlive him as an enduring contribution to the search for peace in the region. At home, King Abdullah’s vision was dedicated to the education of his people and to greater engagement with the world.

As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship. As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond. The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah’s legacy.

May God grant him peace.

Abdullah was succeeded by Crown Prince Salman, his 79-year-old brother.

Sarah Jones

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