President Joe Biden speaks during a bill signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House on June 13, 2022 in Washington.
Highlight
- Biden plans to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
- Biden’s first stop during Middle East swing will be in Israel to meet PM Naftali Bennett
- Biden is expected to meet the athletes attending the Maccabia Games.
The White House announced Tuesday that President Joe Biden will make his first visit to the Middle East next month, with visits to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia.
The decision to pay a call on Saudi leaders during his July 13–16 visit was made by Biden to brand the kingdom as a “pariah” because of his human rights record as the Democratic presidential candidate and to revive US-Saudi relations. : Comes after promising to settle.
Biden plans to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. US intelligence officials determined that Prince Mohammed probably ordered the brutal 2018 killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. After Biden took office, his administration made it clear that the president would avoid direct engagement with the Crown Prince and instead focus on his engagements with King Salman.
Human rights advocates and some Democratic allies have cautioned Biden against visiting the oil-rich kingdom, saying such a visit without achieving human rights commitments would send a message to Saudi leaders that serious rights violations have no consequences. Saudis have been accused of using mass arrests, executions and violence to suppress dissent.
But in a time of skyrocketing gas pump prices, rising concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and China’s continuing concern about expanding its global footprint, Biden and his national security team have determined that the Saudis, especially Crown Prince To free, that’s all. Not in America’s interest.
The Saudi embassy in Washington said Biden would meet with both King Salman and Prince Mohammed and described the visit as coming at King Salman’s invitation to “strengthen the historic bilateral ties and the prestigious strategic partnership between the two countries”. did.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia looks forward to welcoming President Biden and defining the next chapters of our partnership,” the Saudi embassy said in a statement. “In times of global challenges related to the global economy, health, climate and international conflict, the partnership between our two countries is as important as ever to promoting peace, prosperity and stability around the world.”
The White House announced the visit this month after Saudi Arabia helped OPEC+ increase oil production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, and the kingdom extended its United Nations-mediated ceasefire in its seven-year war. agreed to do. Yemen Biden called the Saudi cease-fire decision “courageous”. According to the administration official, Prince Mohammed, commonly referred to by his initials, MBS, played a “significant role” in expanding the ceasefire.
In a statement announcing the visit to the Middle East, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said King Salman invited Biden to the state during a gathering in the port city of Jeddah for six Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar. invited to visit. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – as well as Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.
“While in Saudi Arabia, the President will also discuss a number of bilateral, regional and global issues with his counterparts. These include support for UN mediation in Yemen, which has led to the most peaceful period since the war began seven years ago,” said Jean-Pierre. “That along with new and promising infrastructure and climate initiatives They will also discuss means to expand regional economic and security cooperation, including to address threats from Iran, advance human rights, and ensure global energy and food security.
Biden’s first stop during the Middle East swing will be in Jerusalem for a long-planned visit with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He will then meet Palestinian Authority leaders, including Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank. Biden will conclude the whirlwind visit with a visit to Jeddah for the GCC leaders’ meeting and talks with King Salman, the Crown Prince and other Saudi officials.
Israel’s visit comes at a difficult time for Bennett’s fragile coalition, as he tries to prevent another election and a possible return to power for former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s nuclear program proceeds.
Biden’s time in Israel coincides with the Maccabiah Games, a sporting event that brings together thousands of Jewish and Israeli athletes from around the world. Biden, who visited Israel for the first time as a young senator nearly 50 years ago, is also expected to meet the athletes attending the Games.
Israeli officials in their engagement with the Biden administration have emphasized that US relations with Arab capitals, including Riyadh, are vital to Israel’s security and overall stability in the region. The visit could also provide an opportunity for the administration to launch talks it sees as a long-term project to normalize Israel-Saudi ties.
Facing questions earlier this month about a possible visit to Saudi Arabia, Biden stressed that there are many aspects of the relationship that affect the security of the US and the Middle East.
“Look, I’m not going to change my perspective on human rights,” Biden said. “But as President of the United States, my job is to bring peace if I can, to bring peace if I can. And that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
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