RIYADH – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to visit the UnitedStates from March 19-22, for the first time as heir to the throne, a Saudigovernment source told AFP on Wednesday.
The much anticipated trip to Washington will follow a visit to Britain onMarch 7 for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May.
US President Donald Trump hosted Prince Mohammed in March 2017, just weeksafter taking office, and he chose Saudi Arabia for his first officialoverseas visit as president.
Prince Mohammed, who was named heir in June 2017, is also expected to visitFrance in the coming weeks.
The government source did not comment on Prince Mohammed s schedule inWashington.
Saudi Arabia has grown close to its longtime ally Washington under Trump,whose harder line on its arch-rival Iran and softer stance on arms salesare a welcome shift in policy for Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia viewed Trump s predecessor president Barack Obama as tooaccommodating towards Iran — particularly on negotiating a 2015 nucleardeal.