Riyadh: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) held a dialogue session titled ’80 Years of Friendship’ as part of an exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic King Abdulaziz-President Franklin Roosevelt meeting. The event was organized in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and several government agencies.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session was moderated by Professor of Modern History at King Saud University, Dr. Abdullah Al-Mutawa. It featured distinguished speakers, including Director General of Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Raed bin Khalid Qarmali, and Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Institute for Transregional Studies of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia at Princeton University, Dr. Bernard Haykel.

The discussion traced the evolution of Saudi-U.S. relations from the 1930s to the present, highlighting their transformation into a strategic partnership spanning over 90 years. A key focus was the February 14, 1945, meeting between King Abdulaziz and President Roosevelt aboard the USS Quincy, a historic moment that strengthened bilateral ties.

Speakers also explored Roosevelt’s engagements with other world leaders at the time, the circumstances surrounding King Abdulaziz’s journey from Jeddah to meet the U.S. president, and the significant impact of their discussions. The session further examined the continued growth of Saudi-U.S. relations, the recent transformations in Saudi Arabia over the past six to seven years, and their influence on ties.

Amid regional and global challenges, the dialogue reinforced the importance of the Saudi-U.S. strategic partnership, emphasizing its role in navigating rapid international changes.