Trump endorses Saudi modernisation drive

Both leaders also discussed continuing threat of Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen

In a call made by US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia's King Salman, the former offered his endorsement of the kingdom's modernisation drive.

While the arrest of 11 prominent princes was not mentioned outright, Trump praised the kingdom's efforts to create a tolerant and modern Saudi society.

"President Donald J Trump spoke yesterday with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia," the White House statement said Sunday.



"King Salman expressed his condolences for the recent terrorist attack in New York City. President Trump thanked the king for his support and emphasised America's commitment to defeating ISIS."

“The king and crown prince’s recent public statements regarding the need to build a moderate, peaceful and tolerant region are essential to ensuring a hopeful future for the Saudi people, to curtailing terrorist funding, and to defeating radical ideology — once and for all — so the world can be safe from its evil,” the statement read further

According to New York Times, White House officials made no comment on whether Trump's call should be interpreted as an endorsements of the scores of overnight arrests made by the Kingdom. However, the statement makes clear that the White House approves of everything else the monarch is doing in Saudi Arabia

The statement also said both leaders discussed the "continuing threat of Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen" and the kingdom's interception of a missile fired from Yemen at Riyadh.

Trump also thanked the monarch for the Kingdom's military purchases, which includes a $15 billion investment in the American-made THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system.



The US president also asked the monarch to strongly consider listing state-oil firm Aramco on the New York Stock Exchange. This had also been mentioned by Trump in a tweet earlier.

Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange. Important to the United States!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2017

This story originally appeared on The New York Times