'Osama wanted to destroy US-Saudi ties': Saudi Prince on 9/11
What's the story
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that Osama bin Laden used Saudi nationals in the 9/11 attacks to deliberately damage relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Speaking at the White House, he assured Americans that his country is "doing its best" to ensure such an incident "never happens again." The statement comes amid demands for accountability from families of 9/11 victims during his visit.
Clarification
Bin Laden's goal was to sever US-Saudi ties: Crown Prince
The Crown Prince reiterated that bin Laden's goal was to sever ties between Washington and Riyadh. He argued that accepting any other interpretation would "serve the very purpose Osama bin Laden intended." "I feel painful about the families of my wife and I that live in America. But we must focus on reality," he said, adding that CIA documents show bin Laden used Saudi people for this purpose.
Prince
'9/11 a huge mistake'
"Based on CIA documents, Osama Bin Laden used Saudi people at that event for one main purpose: to destroy this relation, to destroy the American-Saudi relation.....So, whoever buys that, that means they are helping Osama bin Laden's purpose of destroying this relation. He knows that strong relation between America and Saudi Arabia is bad for extremism....terrorism," said Prince Salman. He called 9/11 a "huge mistake" and assured that the Saudi administration is working to ensure that it doesn't repeat.
Media scrutiny
Crown Prince addresses 9/11 conspiracy and Khashoggi murder
The Crown Prince's comments came as he and President Donald Trump announced a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and a deal involving the sale of F-35 fighter jets. At the start of the two leaders' public remarks, Trump expressed gratitude for anticipated Saudi investments in the US, which he said will be in hundreds of billions of dollars. "I want to thank you because you've agreed to invest $600bn...And because he's my friend, he might make it $1 trillion," Trump said.
Diplomatic announcement
President Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally
During a gala dinner, President Trump announced that he was designating Saudi Arabia as one of only 20 major non-NATO allies worldwide. "I'm just telling you now for the first time, because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight," he said. That designation allows a country expedited access to US military gear and sales without some of the complicated licensing requirements that other buyers of advanced US weapons systems must go through.