New Delhi: US President Barack Obama along with his wife Michelle, who were on a three-day visit to India, have left for Saudi Arabia to pay respects to the royal family following King Abdullah's death.
As Obama reached Palam Airport, PM Modi wished him a safe journey and tweeted, “Farewell @WhiteHouse…Your visit has taken India-USA ties to a new level & opened a new chapter. Wish you a safe journey.”
Modi also added, “As for the rainy day yesterday, as you yourself said @WhiteHouse today morning, Bade Bade Deshon Mein... :)”
Modi was referring to a dialogue from Hindi movie "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", repeated by Obama during his speech at the Siri Fort auditorium Tuesday.
Obama too thanked the people of India and Narendra Modi via twitter, saying, “Thank you Narendra Modi for a memorable visit, and to the Indian people for their warm welcome”.
Obama and Michelle had earlier planned to visit the Taj Mahal, but had to make last minute changes. He along with a delegation of lawmakers, senior U.S. officials and two former secretaries of state is going to Riyadh, the capital of the oil-rich desert kingdom.
He will be there for fours hours. During his stay in Riyadh he will meet the new monarch King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud and attend a dinner with other Saudi officials.
The visit by the president and a high-level delegation underscores the key role Saudi Arabia plays in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia became one of a handful of Arab nations that have joined the U.S. in launching airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
