Saudi prince visits Nellis for Red Flag war exercises

Eric Leake

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 | 11:08 a.m.

Close ties between the American and Saudi governments were evident Tuesday as a member of the Saudi royal family visited Nellis Air Force Base to view his country's participation in the Red Flag military exercises.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for Saudi Arabia, visited the base where the Royal Saudi Air Force is participating in the war exercises involving forces from several countries. It is the Arab nation's first participation in Red Flag in 25 years.

"This shows the solid relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Khalid said outside the base's Air Warfare Center.

He said he was happy to witness the cooperation between the nations first in the Persian Gulf War and as they have continued through the terrorist attacks on New York.

"I must say that the 11th of September was a sad day for both countries," the prince said. "The purpose of those terrorists was to cut this relationship."

He said the Saudi air force's participation in the Red Flag war exercises shows that the relationship between the nations is even stronger than before.

The Saudis brought 150 personnel and six U.S.-made F-15 strike fighter jets to the exercises, which include more than 100 aircraft from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Canada and NATO.

The training started Saturday and continues through Sept. 2. It is the third such training Nellis is hosting this year.

Khalid arrived Tuesday evening to watch the exercises and meet with U.S. military officials. Warplanes sat ready for the exercises on the tarmac behind him.

Bruce Lemkin, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for international affairs, who greeted the prince at the base, said there is great demand for cooperative training.

"We have a marvelous air force, the greatest air force in the world. But one of the lessons of 9/11 is that we can't do it all ourselves," Lemkin said.

"If we can train together, if we can learn to fly together, if we have to, we can fight together."

Khalid arrived while U.S. diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia remained closed for the second day due to terrorist threats.

Lemkin said the Saudi partnership with the United States is important in fighting terrorism.

"I think it's a very strong relationship. I think the relationship has changed because the nature of the threat has changed," he said.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein, who commands the Air Warfare Center, said much of the training exercises would focus on integrated scenarios including not only flight crews but support personnel.

Khalid added that the interaction among the personnel, Americans meeting Saudis meeting Norwegians, was a valuable part of the exercise.

"I think pilots learn from each other in many ways, not only from the exercises but in knowing each other," the prince said. "That is the most important thing."