The relationship is tense, and Joe Biden makes no secret of that. According to his own statements, the first topic he addresses during his visit to Saudi Arabia is the murder of journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi "crystal clear" - and he still draws a positive conclusion.
US President Joe Biden has warned the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) against further acts of violence against government critics. He made it clear to the heir to the throne that another act like the murder of journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi would result in a "response" from the United States, Biden said in the evening after his meeting with bin Salman in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah.
Crown Prince bin Salman has denied any responsibility for the crime, the US President said. "He basically said he wasn't personally responsible. I indicated that I think he was responsible," Biden said. He addressed the topic "crystal clear" right at the beginning of the meeting. "I don't regret anything I said. What happened to Khashoggi was outrageous," said the US President.
Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in October 2018 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a Saudi Arabian intelligence command. His body was subsequently dismembered. The US intelligence services are convinced that the Saudi Crown Prince authorized the assassination. Bin Salman denies ordering the killing.
Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with the crown prince were therefore harshly criticized by Khashoggi's former fiancé, Hatice Cengiz. On Friday, she wrote to the US President on Twitter: "The blood of MBS' next victims is on your hands." When asked about it, Biden said, "I'm sorry she feels that way."
Before his election as US President, Biden had announced that Saudi Arabia would have to be treated as a "pariah" state because of the murder of Khashoggi. In view of the comparatively high gasoline prices in the USA and the upcoming congressional elections in November, however, Biden is under domestic political pressure to persuade the government in Riyadh to increase oil production.
According to US government officials, Biden wants to restart relations with the traditional ally with his visit to Saudi Arabia. After the first talks, the US President drew a positive balance despite the tense mood. Significant progress had been made on security and economic issues, he said in the evening.
Biden began his Middle East tour in Israel. He was the first US President to fly directly from there to Saudi Arabia. The flight is considered symbolic of the Washington government's efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The two countries are among the USA's closest allies, but have traditionally been enemies. They are united by their attitude towards Iran, Saudi Arabia's arch-rival in the region.
