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President Obama dashed from India to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in a hastily planned trip aimed at setting out on the right foot with the new leader of a key ally.

Obama cut short a visit in India to be one of the first world leaders to meet with King Salman since the death Friday of his half brother King Abdullah, who was 90. Obama arrived in Riyadh with a large bipartisan delegation of U.S. dignitaries and officials.

King Salman, a sword-bearing guard and members of the royal family greeted the president at the airport.

The trip served as a reminder of the importance of the U.S. relationship with the kingdom. Despite a boon in domestic fuel production and major shifts in the geopolitics of the Middle East, the Saudis are still viewed as a linchpin to U.S. goals in the region, including a nuclear deal with Iran, a credible coalition in the fight against Islamic State and counter-terrorism efforts in a rapidly destabilizing Yemen.

It is important for us to take into account existing relationships, the existing alignments within a very complicated Middle East, Obama told CNNs Fareed Zakaria in an interview aired Tuesday.

Obama was close to King Abdullah, deputy national security council advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters on the way to Riyadh.

It will be important for the president to establish that relationship with King Salman, Rhodes said.

The president was joined by a 29-member delegation of current advisors as well as officials from earlier administrations who worked closely with the royal family, the White House said. The list included three former national security advisors and two former secretaries of State, James A. Baker III and Condoleezza Rice.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), as well as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also made the trip, as did Obamas secretary of State, CIA director, national security advisor and the head of U.S. Central Command.

Obama and Salman made no public comments before their private meeting, a break from typical White House practice. There was no public toast at the lavish dinner of lobster soup, grilled lamb and French pastries for the U.S. delegation. Obamas only comment to reporters following him on the trip was to thank them, a signal that a photo opportunity had ended.

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Obama, senior delegation meet with Saudi Arabia's King Salman