Saudi king: Trump visit a ‘turning point’

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman says that President Trump’s recent visit to his kingdom marks a “turning point” in U.S.-Saudi relations.

“This is a turning point in relations between the two countries,” he told his council of ministers, according to the state news agency SPA.

Salman also pledged that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia will advance to the “level of strengthening consultations, cooperation and coordination on all fronts.”

{mosads}The king additionally praised an “historic agreement” between the U.S. and Gulf nations to “take firm measures to target the financing of terrorism.”

Trump on Monday journeyed to Israel after spending last weekend in Saudi Arabia as part of his first foreign trip as president.

The president on Sunday implored Muslim nations to form a new coalition to defeat extremism during a speech in Riyadh.

“[Terrorists] do not worship God, they worship death,” he told leaders of more than 50 Muslim-majority nations. “A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the extremists.”

“Drive them out of your places of worship, drive them out of your communities, drive them out of your holy land and drive them out of this earth.”

Trump on Saturday signed a $110 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia alongside Salman and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

A White House official said the deal will work to increase Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities, bolstering equipment and services in the face of extremist terrorist groups and Iran.