President Trump on Sunday took a guided tour of Saudi Arabia’s headquarters for countering extremist ideologies in the Middle East.
Trump was taken through the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology after delivering a major speech to a number of Arab leaders about collaboration in the fight against terrorism.
The center is primarily focused on combating militant ideology and messaging. Saudi officials said the center will be used to counter the messaging used by groups like the Islamic State.
President Trump announces Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/FJmolsRBFo
— Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) May 21, 2017
Military force alone is not the answer because “we know these groups can only be defeated if we defeat their ideology,” said Mohammed al-Issa, secretary-general of the Saudi-based Muslim World League.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a joint declaration on Saturday that called for the creation of a special commission to coordinate both country’s efforts on combating extremism by cutting off groups’ financing, countering their messaging and applying military force.
The commission will meet both in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. at least once annually to analyze the counter-terror strategy’s success and better coordinate both countries’ efforts.
