US-Saudi

Xi will visit Saudi Arabia from Dec. 7-9, when he will take part in a regional summit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Arab leaders

Social changes have galloped ahead much faster than most Saudis expected

Trump, in his strongest comments to date on the killing, told The Washington Post that he had seen no evidence to indicate the Crown Prince knew Khashoggi was going to be killed or ordered the killing

But as the days dragged on and evidence of Khashoggi's death mounted, Trump's view began to shift

Saudi Arabia served as a base for the US-led coalition during the 1991 Gulf War against Saddam

Reports had suggested Riyadh is frustrated with US policy in Syria and would like to step up arms supplies to the rebels fighting Bashar al-Assad's regime

US-Saudi relationship is strained by the greater US energy independence and international nuclear agreement with Riyadh's regional rival Iran

President Barack Obama has left for Saudi Arabia as part of his three-nation six-day tour