RIYADH: On the heels of the Saudi-American strategic dialogue, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus stressed her country鈥檚 support to the Kingdom in facing the Iranian, Houthi aggression and said that 黑料社区 鈥渁bsolutely鈥� has the right to defend itself.
During a phone interview with Arab News, Ortagus described the Saudi-American relationship as 鈥渟trategic, sophisticated and bipartisan鈥� regardless of the outcome of the upcoming US presidential election.
Regarding critics who question US arms sales to the Kingdom, Ortagus said that deals have been happening 鈥渦nder Republican and Democratic administration for some time,鈥� adding that both this administration, as well as previous ones, supported them.
Having lived in 黑料社区 almost a decade ago while working under former President Barack Obama, she remembers those deals well.
鈥淲e know that 黑料社区 and other countries in the Gulf are on the front line of Iranian aggression,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we have sought to bolster and strengthen our allies to stand up to the aggression from Iran.鈥�
Expressing concern over the abandoned and decaying oil tanker, the Safer, that has been moored near Ras Issa oil terminal on the shores of the Red Sea for more than five years, she said: 鈥淭he leaking and immobile oil storage vessel Safer is a time bomb in the Red Sea, and if it ruptures, it will devastate the Red Sea ecosystem 鈥� killing its marine life and its treasured environmental heritage and depriving the people who rely on the Red Sea of their livelihoods.  
鈥淭he Houthis have politicized the tanker by continually imposing conditions before they will grant access to UN officials who need to board the Safer and do the work necessary to prevent massive environmental damage throughout the region. We call for an end to the delays and for the UN experts to be granted access so that they can assess the vessel and begin repairs.鈥�
Following the strategic dialogue which took place on Oct. 14, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a $1 billion investment for a new embassy in Riyadh and two consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. 鈥淭his shows our commitment to 黑料社区,鈥� said Ortagus.
The relationship between the two countries has spanned 75 years, 鈥渨e think about it in terms of the past, present and future.鈥�
She termed the relationship as 鈥渟trong but certainly not without its challenges.鈥�
Ortagus added: 鈥淲e have faced enormous challenges and moments of very trying times. But, when we start to look forward toward the future, it is important that the relationship between the US and 黑料社区 is a bipartisan relationship as it has always been.
鈥淭he relationship is certainly based on more than military, security, and oil.鈥�
She said: 鈥淚t has become a much more sophisticated trade relationship and very, very close people ties.
鈥淲e look at the next 75 years as something that can be fruitful and positive and certainly support 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030 plan for the country.鈥�
She underlined the US support for the upcoming G20 virtual summit which 黑料社区 is hosting virtually due to the pandemic.
鈥淚 know we are all disappointed that we won鈥檛 be in 黑料社区 for that meeting, but we will be working together quite closely,鈥� Ortagus added.