This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/us/politics/obama-will-end-india-trip-early-to-visit-saudi-arabia.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Obama Will End India Trip Early to Visit Saudi Arabia | Obama Will End India Trip Early to Visit Saudi Arabia |
| (17 minutes later) | |
| NEW DELHI — President Obama has decided to cut short his planned three-day trip to India and visit Saudi Arabia, where he will pay his respects upon the death of King Abdullah and meet with the king’s successor, White House officials said Saturday. | NEW DELHI — President Obama has decided to cut short his planned three-day trip to India and visit Saudi Arabia, where he will pay his respects upon the death of King Abdullah and meet with the king’s successor, White House officials said Saturday. |
| Mr. Obama, who left Washington for India on Saturday morning, had planned to visit the Taj Mahal, the country’s most iconic site, on Tuesday at the end of his trip. Instead, he will end the visit early and fly to Riyadh, the Saudi capital that is in the midst of a leadership transition. | |
| The president will “pay respects” to the late king’s family and “offer his condolences on behalf of the American people,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. “The president regrets that he will be unable to visit Agra during this trip,” Mr. Earnest added, referring to the home of the Taj Mahal. | The president will “pay respects” to the late king’s family and “offer his condolences on behalf of the American people,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. “The president regrets that he will be unable to visit Agra during this trip,” Mr. Earnest added, referring to the home of the Taj Mahal. |
| King Abdullah, a longtime ally of the United States and a critical power broker in the Middle East, died Friday at the age of 90 and was succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Salman. The White House had announced that it would send Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia to pay respects and offer condolences. But the White House said it changed the plan after it was decided that the president could go himself, adding that Mr. Biden would remain in Washington. | King Abdullah, a longtime ally of the United States and a critical power broker in the Middle East, died Friday at the age of 90 and was succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Salman. The White House had announced that it would send Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia to pay respects and offer condolences. But the White House said it changed the plan after it was decided that the president could go himself, adding that Mr. Biden would remain in Washington. |
| Mr. Obama released a statement Friday praising King Abdullah for making efforts to bring peace to the region and to improve education in Saudi Arabia. | Mr. Obama released a statement Friday praising King Abdullah for making efforts to bring peace to the region and to improve education in Saudi Arabia. |
| “As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” Mr. Obama said. “As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.” | “As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” Mr. Obama said. “As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.” |
| The United States has depended on Saudi Arabia for decades as a reliable friend in the region and supplier of much-needed oil, at one point sending hundreds of thousands of troops to the kingdom to defend it against a possible threat from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Even when the relationship was challenged by the country’s ties to Al Qaeda terrorists involved in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Washington worked hard to preserve the bond, seeing the royal family as a bulwark against instability. | The United States has depended on Saudi Arabia for decades as a reliable friend in the region and supplier of much-needed oil, at one point sending hundreds of thousands of troops to the kingdom to defend it against a possible threat from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Even when the relationship was challenged by the country’s ties to Al Qaeda terrorists involved in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Washington worked hard to preserve the bond, seeing the royal family as a bulwark against instability. |
| More recently, Saudi Arabia has sent warplanes to join the Obama administration’s new military campaign against the terrorist group called Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. And while surging American oil production has made the United States less dependent on Saudi petroleum, the kingdom’s ability to shape world events was reinforced when it opted against cutting production, fueling a sharp drop in the price of oil. That in turn has helped undercut the economies of Russia and other energy producers. | More recently, Saudi Arabia has sent warplanes to join the Obama administration’s new military campaign against the terrorist group called Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. And while surging American oil production has made the United States less dependent on Saudi petroleum, the kingdom’s ability to shape world events was reinforced when it opted against cutting production, fueling a sharp drop in the price of oil. That in turn has helped undercut the economies of Russia and other energy producers. |
| Mr. Obama has not often flown to other countries to pay his respects upon the deaths of their leaders. One of the few exceptions was his decision to attend the state memorial of Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, who died in 2013. | Mr. Obama has not often flown to other countries to pay his respects upon the deaths of their leaders. One of the few exceptions was his decision to attend the state memorial of Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, who died in 2013. |
| Mr. Obama’s decision to cancel his visit to the Taj Mahal, where Michelle Obama had been scheduled to accompany him, will take away some of the symbolic weight of his trip to India. But he will still be the first American president to visit India twice while in office, following a trip in 2010, and on Monday he will be the first American leader to serve as chief guest at India’s annual Republic Day celebration, which marks the anniversary of the nation’s Constitution going into force. | Mr. Obama’s decision to cancel his visit to the Taj Mahal, where Michelle Obama had been scheduled to accompany him, will take away some of the symbolic weight of his trip to India. But he will still be the first American president to visit India twice while in office, following a trip in 2010, and on Monday he will be the first American leader to serve as chief guest at India’s annual Republic Day celebration, which marks the anniversary of the nation’s Constitution going into force. |
| Mr. Obama plans to use the India trip to seek common ground on climate change, civilian nuclear power, trade and security. Although it was not clear that any major breakthroughs would be announced, the president hoped to build on efforts to draw India closer, efforts that were disrupted by the December 2013 arrest and strip search of an Indian diplomat who was accused of exploiting a housekeeper in New York. | Mr. Obama plans to use the India trip to seek common ground on climate change, civilian nuclear power, trade and security. Although it was not clear that any major breakthroughs would be announced, the president hoped to build on efforts to draw India closer, efforts that were disrupted by the December 2013 arrest and strip search of an Indian diplomat who was accused of exploiting a housekeeper in New York. |
| The two sides have also been frustrated by other disagreements, including a dispute over liability that has stalled a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement first struck by President George W. Bush. But the two sides lately have signaled a mutual desire to move beyond disagreements. | The two sides have also been frustrated by other disagreements, including a dispute over liability that has stalled a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement first struck by President George W. Bush. But the two sides lately have signaled a mutual desire to move beyond disagreements. |
| “I’m committed to forging a greater partnership with India, both on a bilateral basis and within multilateral organizations,” Mr. Obama said in written answers to questions from India Today, the country’s leading weekly newsmagazine. “I believe that when our two countries work together we have a better chance of seizing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of our time.” | “I’m committed to forging a greater partnership with India, both on a bilateral basis and within multilateral organizations,” Mr. Obama said in written answers to questions from India Today, the country’s leading weekly newsmagazine. “I believe that when our two countries work together we have a better chance of seizing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of our time.” |
| Mr. Obama lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he hosted at the White House last September. “Prime Minister Modi’s historic election clearly reflects the desire of many Indians for economic growth that is inclusive, good government that serves citizens and education that delivers the skills Indians seek,” he said. “And his remarkable life story – from tea-seller to prime minister – is a reflection of the determination of the Indian people to succeed.” | Mr. Obama lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he hosted at the White House last September. “Prime Minister Modi’s historic election clearly reflects the desire of many Indians for economic growth that is inclusive, good government that serves citizens and education that delivers the skills Indians seek,” he said. “And his remarkable life story – from tea-seller to prime minister – is a reflection of the determination of the Indian people to succeed.” |
| The president’s priorities for the trip were exemplified by the officials he invited to join him on the trip, including Penny Pritzker, the commerce secretary, Michael Froman, the trade representative, and John D. Podesta, the presidential counselor who focuses on climate issues. Also joining the president were several congressional Democrats: Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Ami Bera of California and Joseph Crowley of New York, as well as Senator Mark Warner of Virginia. | The president’s priorities for the trip were exemplified by the officials he invited to join him on the trip, including Penny Pritzker, the commerce secretary, Michael Froman, the trade representative, and John D. Podesta, the presidential counselor who focuses on climate issues. Also joining the president were several congressional Democrats: Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Ami Bera of California and Joseph Crowley of New York, as well as Senator Mark Warner of Virginia. |
| In addition to the Republic Day parade, Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Modi and attend a state dinner. He will also participate in a wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and he will host a meeting of American and Indian corporate chief executives. | In addition to the Republic Day parade, Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Modi and attend a state dinner. He will also participate in a wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and he will host a meeting of American and Indian corporate chief executives. |