Reuters
On the heels of his three-day visit to India, President Barack Obama is leading a bipartisan delegation to pay respects for the death of King Abdullah and meet with his successor, King Salman. Among the high-powered team is Sen. John McCain of Arizona as well as several veterans of previous Republican administrations, including former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and James A. Baker III. Secretary of State John Kerry, CIA Director John Brennan, and Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the head of the U.S. Central Command, will also join Obama in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The White House added that several Democratic members of Congress are also part of the delegation, including Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi. The trip underscores the importance of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia for not only oil purposes but also counterterrorism efforts in the region.