Saudi King Greets President Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama began his Mideast tour Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. There, he was greeted by King Abdullah.

Obama is doing a tour of the region in hopes of improving relations with Muslims and the United States.

“The United States and Saudi Arabia have a long history of friendship. We have a strategic relationship,” Obama said as he visited the monarch’s desert horse farm. The U.S. president called Abdullah wise and gracious, adding: “I am confident that working together that the United States and Saudi Arabia can make progress on a whole host of issues of mutual interest.”

In turn, Abdullah expressed his “best wishes to the friendly American people who are represented by a distinguished man who deserves to be in this position.”

The King and Obama briefly chatted together while drinking Arabic coffee out of small cups during an airport welcoming ceremony at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh.

Abdullah gave the President a gold medallion to wear around his neck.

The two leaders also discussed Mideast issues, such as the possibility of Iran building a nuclear bomb, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Obama is expected to stay overnight at the King’s horse ranch before heading over to Cairo. There he is to make a speech in hopes of easing tensions between Americans and Muslims.