*** Obama to visit Saudi Arabia on April 21 | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Obama to visit Saudi Arabia on April 21

Washington: US President Barack Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on April 21 for a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the White House announced on Wednesday.

They will discuss the fight against the Daesh (IS) group and other security issues in the Middle East, the White House said.

Obama hosted GCC leaders at Camp David last May. A joint communique issued after the meeting said that the leaders underscored their mutual commitment to a US-GCC strategic partnership to build closer relations in all fields, including defense and security cooperation, and develop collective approach to regional issues.

Obama led a large, bipartisan US delegation to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah last January.

Obama and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman held an hour-long meeting in which they discussed a range of issues. The two countries have been strategic partners for 70 years.