Trump’s Calls With Gulf Allies Offer Insight on Mideast Policy
- Leaders said to agree to enhance anti-terrorism efforts
- Call comes amid growing criticism of Trump’s visa ban
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Two days after moving to block the entry of citizens of seven majority Muslim countries, President Donald Trump’s talks with two Gulf Arab leaders contained no public mention of the ban. The focus, instead, was on anti-terrorism efforts and confronting a mutual foe: Iran.
Trump spoke by phone on Sunday with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, whose country is home to Islam’s holiest shrines, as well as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The call with the Saudi monarch lasted more than an hour, according to a senior Saudi person who spoke on condition of anonymity. In addition to fighting terrorism, they agreed to tackle Iran’s “destabilizing regional activities,” the White House said.