President Barack Obama and new Saudi Arabia King Salman will discuss recent concerns over Yemen and the Islamic State.

The two leaders will have their first formal meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday.

According to Reuters, Obama cut short his visit to India in favor of leading a U.S. delegation to the Saudi capital after the death of King Abdullah, Salman's brother and former close ally with the United States.

Following Abdullah's death, Obama stated the late king was a bold leader and contributed to Middle East peace.

The president has said Abdullah had a "steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship."

Due to the turmoil in the Middle East, Washington needs Saudi Arabia as a crucial ally.

"Principally, this is to mark this transition in leadership and to pay respects to the family and the people of Saudi Arabia," Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, said on Monday.

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary said on Friday, "The president certainly hopes, and we expect, that the strong relationship that exists between the United States and Saudi Arabia will endure under the leadership of the new king."

Saudi Arabia has supported the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and other countries in the Middle East.

Yemen will be an issue discussed between the two leaders as Yemen's U.S.-backed government collapsed last week.

Despite publicly declaring support for one another, the two countries have crucial differences.

Saudi Arabia has said Washington does not pay enough attention to the Middle East. According to the Global Post, Riyadh wants to see Washington exert more pressure on Yemen and Libya.

Libya currently has two rival governments and powerful militias battling for territory.

Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi resigned last week after Shiite militias attacked government buildings and kidnapped his chief of staff.