Trump, Saudi king agree to support creating safe zones in Syria, Yemen

World
Europe

US President Donald Trump and King Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia on Sunday agreed to support setting up safe zones in Syria and Yemen.

In a telephone talk between Trump and King Salman, the leaders also agreed to support other ideas to help the refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts, the White House said in a statement, without elaborating.

US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up to reporters as he waits to speak by phone with the Saudi Arabia's King Salman in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington January 29, 2017. /CFP Photo

Trump has called for creating a safe zone in Syria, seeing the plan as a way to stem immigration of Syrian refugees to Europe and elsewhere.

Over the phone, Trump and King Salman agreed on the importance of strengthening joint efforts to fight the spread of radical Islamic terrorism and working jointly to address challenges to regional peace and security, including the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

US President Donald Trump speaks with the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud, in the Oval Office of the White House surrounded by Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner (C), and National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (R), on January 29, 2017 in Washington. /CFP Photo

They also agreed to "rigorously" enforce the agreement on Iran's nuclear programs, which Trump has expressed opposition to, and address Iran's "destabilizing" regional activities, according to the statement.

In addition, the two leaders discussed an invitation from the Saudi King for Trump to lead a Middle East effort to defeat terrorism and to help build a new future, economically and socially, for the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.

(Source: Xinhua)

11168km