February 24, 2019, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: From left: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Arab and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker poses for a family portrait of Arab League and EU leaders during the European Union (EU) and League of Arab States (LAS) summit at the Sharm el-Sheikh Convention Center. Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa (Photo by Oliver Weiken/Photo Alliance via Getty Images)
Image Alliance | Image Alliance | Getty Images
Saudi King Salman will receive treatment for lung inflammation at the Salam Palace in Jeddah, the state news agency said on Sunday, hours after he underwent medical tests.
The 88-year-old king will be treated with antibiotics until the inflammation subsides, the state news agency quoted the royal court as saying.
Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has postponed a visit to Japan that was scheduled to begin on Monday due to King Salman’s health concerns, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Masaru said.
“Saudi Arabia informed the Japanese government that due to the health condition of King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed’s visit to Japan, which was originally scheduled to begin on the 20th, had to be postponed,” Lin said at a press conference on the 20th. .
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency said King Salman underwent medical examination at the Royal Clinic at Salam Palace earlier on Sunday due to “high temperature and joint pain.”
The king was last hospitalized in April for a routine check-up, state television reported at the time.
King Salman, custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, became ruler of the world’s largest oil exporter in 2015 after serving as crown prince and deputy prime minister for more than 2-1/2 years.
The crown prince suffered a sudden onset of illness as he met with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Saudi Arabia for talks on a strategic deal between Washington and Riyadh.
The Saudi Embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the crown prince’s canceled trip. He was originally scheduled to meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit from May 20 to 23.
