(Washington, DC) – Highlighting the close bilateral defense and security partnership, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States today greeted Royal Saudi Air Force pilots participating in the U.S.-hosted “Red Flag” training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

“Saudis and Americans are training together and fighting together to confront shared threats and to defend common interests. I learned this first hand from my own experience as a pilot and now must explain in my new role as a diplomat,” said Prince Khalid in remarks to an assembled group of U.S. and KSA pilots at the base. “Policy may be made in Riyadh and Washington, but it is here in training and then in battle where trust is built, where friendships are formed and where unbreakable ties are forged.”

Prince Khalid was received by Brigadier General Richard Boutwell and Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Commander Major General Mohammed al-Otaibi. Following a set of briefings, Prince Khalid delivered brief remarks to RSAF pilots and their counterparts in the U.S. Air Force.  Prince Khalid’s visit was a return to Nellis where he first participated in a similar exercise as a member of a Saudi F-15 squadron.

Red Flag is an air-to-air combat training exercise conducted by the U.S. Air Force.  Participating pilots, from the U.S. Air Force and allied nations’ combat air forces, conduct intensive air sorties in a safe training environment.  The RSAF is participating in the Nellis exercises for the sixth consecutive time.

The visit to Nellis A.F.B is the initial stop of Prince Khalid’s first U.S. tour as Ambassador.  He will also visit Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Dallas, Houston and St. Louis on his trip.