Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman is expected in New York on June 22 to meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. His visit is an apparent attempt to settle the dispute that resulted from Ban accusing Riyadh of applying undue pressure on the United Nations to remove the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen from a list of entities violating children's rights.

US President Barack Obama had hosted Mohammed on June 17 at the White House. Following the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a press conference that it had been positive, focusing on the strategic relationship between the two countries and on ways the relationship can be strengthened. Furthermore, Obama was briefed about the kingdom’s outlook as presented in Saudi Vision 2030, the economic reform plan prepared by McKinsey & Company to guide Saudi Arabia in developing an economy based on sustainable investments, regardless of oil prices and fluctuations.

The communique circulated by the Saudi Royal Court on June 12, the day before Mohammed began his travels, stated, “At the direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, and in response to an invitation extended by the government of the US, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, deputy crown prince, second deputy prime minister and defense minister, shall, on Monday June 13, 2016, depart for an official visit to the US.”

It thus can be concluded that Riyadh heeded an invitation hastily extended by Washington and that the Obama administration set the date for the visit despite the fact that senior Saudi officials do not traditionally embark on official foreign visits during the month of Ramadan.