US President Biden is not as fond of the powerful Saudi crown prince as his predecessor Trump was. So the welcome ceremony is different. As always, both countries work together. They have common interests - and an enemy that unites them.
US President Joe Biden received an extremely cold reception when he arrived in Saudi Arabia compared to his predecessor Donald Trump. When he arrived at the royal palace in the coastal city of Jeddah in the evening, he was greeted by the controversial Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There was no handshake - both just bumped their fists together. After that, they walked on without further conversation. Before the trip, the White House had announced that Biden wanted to avoid physical contact as much as possible. However, when meeting King Salman, the two heads of state shook hands for several seconds.
At Jeddah's airport, Biden had previously been received by Khalid al-Faisal, governor of Mecca, and Rima bint Bandar, ambassador to the United States - in view of their rank, a clear rebuff for the US president. The arrival also contrasted sharply with Biden's arrival in Israel, where President Izchak Herzog and Prime Minister Jair Lapid had earlier welcomed him with a ceremony.
The cool reception is reminiscent of a visit by ex-US President Barack Obama, who was received in Riyadh in 2016 by the local governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud. Obama's arrival was also not broadcast on Saudi state television, as is usual when heads of state and government visit the kingdom. Shortly before, King Salman could be seen, who instead greeted other high-ranking representatives of neighboring countries from the region on the runway.
Donald Trump, who as US President enjoyed particularly good relations with the rulers of the kingdom, was warmly welcomed during a visit to Riyadh in 2017. King Salman welcomed Trump at the airport, and Trump later performed a saber dance and bowed deeply to the absolute ruler. The visit was full of warm and generous gestures.
According to his security advisor Jake Sullivan, Biden wants to address the human rights situation in the Gulf monarchy during his controversial visit to Saudi Arabia. Sullivan said on the Tel Aviv to Jeddah flight that Biden would talk about it publicly and at his meetings behind closed doors. "The President remains committed to advancing the cause of human rights." Biden's meeting, particularly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is controversial. US intelligence services blamed the crown prince for the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Sullivan said one of the reasons for Biden's visit is that the Middle East remains a "strategically important region." "He will not leave an American vacuum for China and Russia here."
Saudi Arabia is also dependent on its ally, the USA, because of the growing threat from Iran - and is making concessions. In the morning, the Saudi aviation authority announced that it would open its airspace "to all airlines" provided they "meet the requirements". This should end the overflight ban for Israeli aircraft, which had previously been relaxed. Biden spoke of a "historic" step towards a "stable and secure Middle East".
In Saudi Arabia, the highest point of contact for this will probably be Mohammed bin Salman for a long time. Because the only 36-year-old crown prince could still be at the head of the desert state for a long time. His decrepit father, King Salman, has already bestowed many powers on his favorite son and potential heir to the throne.
"MBS", as the Crown Prince is also known, permeates so many areas of life that he has been nicknamed "Mister Everything". He has opened the country to tourists and wants to create jobs for the young population, around two-thirds are younger than 35. Women can move and dress a little more freely in what is actually a strictly conservative Islamic country, and in shopping malls young girls are without Headgear seen shopping or chatting between men.
At the same time, dissidents are pursued with all severity. A group of 13 human rights organizations said they were being arbitrarily arrested, tortured or executed. In March, the kingdom executed 81 people in a single day.
