Saudi minister touts US ties, but faults terrorism act

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister recently described his country's ties with the United States as lengthy and strong, but also faulted the congressional passage of a terrorism act that he says harms Saudi sovereignty.

“The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have had a historic strategic partnership, if not alliance, since World War II; that relationship continues,” Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “We expect it to broaden and deepen and grow stronger. Our interests are aligned when it comes to the issues of the region. We have very, very strong people-to-people relationships with the U.S., and I expect that this will continue.”
 
But Al-Jubeir also criticized America's passage of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, saying it damaged sovereign immunity.
 
“Our hope is that wisdom will prevail and the Congress will do the right thing and make the adjustments,” Al-Jubeir said. “The country that has the most to lose from dilution of sovereign immunities is the United States itself. And American officials know this. Because America has the largest footprint in the world, they operate all over the world. They’re fighting wars all over the world. They provide weapons to countries all over the world. If that principle is eroded, then the US could be sued in virtually every country in the world.”