By Anas Alyusuf

Saudi Gazette

WASHINGTON — The Saudi-US strategic relationship is a solid partnership achieved between the two countries, both G20 member states, and has had a great impact on the region and entire world.

The relationship reaches nearly its 8th decade, since the historic meeting between the late King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the USS Quincy in Great Bitter Lake, Egypt, in 1945, and they have solidified the relationship over the years, and the two countries have never looked back.

In 1933, King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, gave the US company Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL, later Chevron) a right to explore for oil in the eastern part of the Kingdom. The Californian-Arabian Standard Oil Company (CASOC) was formed to exploit the concession. In 1944, CASOC was renamed the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco).

The solid alliance between Saudi Arabia and the US is based on deeper foundations that exceed oil and defense deals. It is a close relationship based on business, history, friendship and more.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the historic meeting between the late King Abdulaziz and former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan attended a ceremony held here on this occasion.

In his speech during the ceremony, Prince Faisal pointed to the importance of this historic meeting between the two great leaders and the solid partnership it has achieved between the two countries that had a great impact on the region and entire world.

The minister lauded the success achieved by the two countries during the past 75 years and their efforts to establish peace in the region, combat terrorism, maintain a balance of energy sources, and trade and economic exchange.

The ceremony was held under the aegis of Princess Reema Bint Bandar, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, in the presence of the grandson of US President Roosevelt, H. Delano Roosevelt, president of US-Saudi Arabian Business Council and senior US and Saudi diplomatic and leadership figures.

For her part, Princess Reema stressed, during her speech, on the importance of Saudi-US relations that began 75 years ago in February 1945, pointing to the achievements of King Abdulaziz and describing him as the great leader.

She also praised the role played by President Franklin Roosevelt who led the United States during the depression and World War II.