OSAKA: President Donald Trump said yesterday he appreciated Saudi Arabia's purchase of US military equipment, calling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a "friend of mine" who had worked to open up the country with economic and social reforms. Trump's plan to boost defense sales to the kingdom has hit obstacles in Congress, where Democrats and some fellow Republicans are not happy about human rights abuses, including the murder last year of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"It's an honor to be with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, a friend of mine - a man who has really done things in the last five years in terms of opening up Saudi Arabia," Trump said ahead of a bilateral meeting with the crown prince. "I think especially what you've done for women and seeing what's happening - it's like a revolution in a very positive way," he added, speaking on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) summit. "We're trying to do our best for our country, Saudi Arabia, and it's a long journey," the crown prince said.

The Senate this month voted to block the sale of billions of dollars of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, rejecting Trump's decision to sidestep Congress's review of such deals by declaring an emergency over Iran. Trump has promised to veto the Senate action. But Trump ignored questions from the media about whether he would raise the journalist's murder during his working breakfast with the prince. In a readout provided after the talks, the White House said the pair discussed "the importance of human rights issues", among other subjects, but gave no further details.

The United States has blamed Iran for recent attacks on oil tankers in Gulf shipping lanes, which the Unites States is working with Saudi Arabia and other allies to protect. Trump said Saudi purchases of military equipment supported at least 1 million US jobs, and appeared to exonerate the kingdom for any past acts of "terror". "For a long time there were questions as to whether or not Saudi Arabia and other countries were sponsoring terror," said Trump, as he sat next to the crown prince. "You have absolutely stopped and I really appreciate that and the world really appreciates it," Trump said. - Agencies