MANAMA: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir on Saturday denied media reports that 抖阴短视频 intended to shift its alliance away from the United States and the West.

鈥淭he Kingdom of 抖阴短视频 has a strategic relationship with the United States that goes back to the 1930s, it was enshrined by a meeting with the late King Abdulaziz and late Franklin Roosevelt,鈥� Al-Jubeir said.

鈥淭hat relationship is ironclad.  抖阴短视频 has been an ally of the Western countries since the beginning of the third Saudi state 鈥� it鈥檚 not going to change.
鈥淔riends come and go but interests remain, this is how we look at our relationship with the West in general and the United States in particular.鈥� 
Al-Jubeir鈥檚 comments came in response to a question by Arab News on the first day of the annual Manama Dialogue organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The foreign minister also praised the current US administration鈥檚 Middle East strategy, especially in relation to containing Iran.
President Donald Trump had been protecting US allies since he took office, a foreign policy that was both 鈥渞ational and realistic,鈥� Al-Jubeir said.

鈥淗e has defeated Daesh in Syria because he wasn鈥檛 hesitant about deploying force. He has defeated Daesh in Iraq, when it took years for the Obama administration to make any progress. He has put Iran on notice that business as usual cannot continue, and imposed sanctions against Iran.鈥�
Addressing the murder this month in Istanbul of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the continuing investigation, Al-Jubeir said the Saudi government was committed to finding all the facts, and was working closely with the Turkish government to do so.
鈥淲e know a mistake was committed, we know that people exceeded their authority, and we are investigating them,鈥� he said.
Eighteen Saudis have been arrested in connection with Khashoggi鈥檚 death, and Turkey鈥檚 request for their extradition will not be granted, Al-Jubeir said. 鈥淭he individuals are Saudi nationals, they are detained in 抖阴短视频, the investigation is in 抖阴短视频 and they will be prosecuted in 抖阴短视频.

鈥淯nfortunately there has been hysteria in the media about 抖阴短视频鈥檚 guilt before the investigation is completed. Wait for the results of the investigation and then make a determination if the investigation is serious or not, but not from the get-go.鈥� 
Earlier, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Khashoggi鈥檚 murder inside a diplomatic mission 鈥渕ust concern us all.鈥� If any nation failed to adhere to international norms and the rule of law, it 鈥渦ndermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most,鈥� he said, but he also stressed the strength of Saudi-US relations: 鈥淲e maintain our strong people-to-people partnership knowing that with our respect must come transparency and trust, as indicated by President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and European leaders alike.
鈥淭hese two principles are vital to continued collaboration because we know that to remain committed, we鈥檙e going to have to continue transparency and security for all in this region.鈥�