75th Anniversary of Quincy Meeting Held Aboard USS Farragut
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dawson Roth, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs
| February 21, 2020
MANAMA, Bahrain - Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, participated in the 75th anniversary ceremony of the historic meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Ibn Saud in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99), Feb. 16.
The original meeting took place aboard USS Quincy (CA 71) between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 14, 1945, resulting in a diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Malloy delivered opening remarks at the ceremony where he spoke about the lasting importance of the friendship formed between Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz.
“That meeting and its outcomes continue to link our proud and partnered past and rich heritage with a hopeful vision for the future – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States,” said Malloy.
Roosevelt’s grandson, H. Delano Roosevelt, also took part in the ceremony along with His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz al Saud and U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, John Abizaid. The ceremony ended with the official delegation recreating an historic photo of the original meeting between President Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz aboard the Quincy.
“It was no accident that the meeting was on the water, on a Navy ship, as our two modern and capable Navies continue to set the standard for partnership, interoperability and coordination every day,” said Malloy.
The U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
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