Saudi-US Relations: CIA Director Pompeo Gifts Prince With Medal For Fight Against Terrorism

The CIA awarded Saudi Arabia’s deputy prime minister and interior minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, with the George Tenet award Friday for his work with combating terrorism. The award, named after former CIA Director George Tenet, is considered an esteemed honor by the CIA.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who visited Turkey over the weekend to discuss ISIS and the Syrian civil war with top officials as part of his first overseas visit, presented the award to the prince in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. The prince was honored by Pompeo for his “excellent intelligence performance, in the domain of counter-terrorism and his unbound contribution to realize world security and peace,” according to Al Jazeera.

Relations between the Middle Eastern country and the U.S. remained steady, the prince said during Pompeo’s visit. “Our relationship with the United States is historic and strategic," the Saudi Press Agency reported Mohammed said. "Any attempts to undermine that will falter.”

The two countries have been on amicable terms as of late. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz spoke with President Donald Trump in a phone call at the end of January and agreed to back safe zones in Yemen and Syria at Trump's request. The two leaders also decided they would both fight against the spread of ISIS. The king invited Trump "to lead a Middle East effort to defeat terrorism and to help build a new future, economically and socially,” according to a readout of the call.

Trump drew attention last month after issuing an executive order temporarily banning immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Saudi Arabia did not appear on the list, even though al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and over a dozen 9/11 hijackers originated from the country.

Some critics suggested Trump’s business interests with Saudi Arabia played a role in excluding it — and other countries — from the ban.

"It's a real question, by the way, if you really want to protect this country: Why are Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Turkey left out of the order? Most of the 9/11 conspirators came from Saudi Arabia,” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., told CNN.