President Biden
Joe BidenFeds investigates Cuomo’s handling of nursing home outbreaks Overnight Defense: One-third of service members refuse coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack US and Japan reach cost-sharing deal On money: Biden faces left-wing reactions to student loans Where things stand as COVID-19 aid | Retail sales return MORE it changes the US approach to Saudi Arabia, moving away from the priority diplomatic access granted to certain Saudi officials during the Trump administration, which gave the kingdom an important role in US policy in the Middle East.
Biden is expected to speak at some point with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, signaling a downgrade of relations with the kingdom’s daily ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a major figure on the world stage.
Emphasis that Biden will communicate with the Saudi king, a move described by the White House press secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOn The Money: Biden faces left-wing reactions to student loans Where things stand as COVID-19 help | Retail sales recover Overnight care: Biden officials announce funding to track virus variants | Senate Dems unveils public option proposal | White House: Teachers’ vaccination is not needed to reopen schools, Harris says teachers should be given priority for COVID-19 vaccine MORE as an effort to “recalibrate” the relationship between Washington and Riyadh, it indicates the president is stepping up his commitment to confront Riyadh more strongly about his human rights abuses while working together on common goals.
“There is a change of tone and substance,” said Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy. “Not at 180 degrees – I still think he’s trying to figure out exactly how to define this – but there’s clearly an ongoing reassessment.”
The Crown Prince played an important role in the Trump administration’s approach to the Middle East, exchanging WhatsApp messages with the former White House chief adviser and Trump’s son-in-law. Jared Kushner
Jared Corey Kushner LIVE COVER: Democrats focus on Trump’s remarks before the attack on the Kushner Chapter, Ivanka Trump reported up to 0 million in foreign revenue in the White House years Can Palestine Import Again? MORE, helping to pave the way for the Abraham Accords, opening up relations between Israel and the Gulf and African nations.
But the Crown Prince alienated Washington from his alleged role in ordering the killing and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi from the US in Turkey in October 2018.
Trump particularly downplayed the Crown Prince’s role in killing Khashoggi in an effort to maintain strong bilateral ties, writing in an extraordinary statement that “maybe he did and maybe not” he was aware of the plot against the journalist who wrote for The Washington Post.
Biden’s Director of National Intelligence, April Haines
Avril Haines Opportunity for Biden Wexton’s Cabinet, Speier calls for revitalization process to revive extremist views Hillicon Valley: Senators express concern over response to Russian hack | Huawei makes a legal move Twitter is seeing more user growth, has pledged to declassify the US intelligence report on Khashoggi’s death that has ended Crown Prince Mohammed personally ordered the killing.
Biden officials hailed the Trump-era Abraham Accords as a positive development, but have already taken steps to return to US support for Saudi actions, which are seen as contributing to human rights atrocities.
“It simply came to our notice then [Arabia] is an important partner on many different fronts; Regional security, counterterrorism are just two of them, “State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.
“At the same time, the strategic partnership must reflect and respect the values we bring to the table, as well as our interests – and the American people expect the US policy towards Riyadh to give priority to the rule of law, respect for human rights. ”
Biden has placed human rights at the forefront of its foreign policy agenda, ending US support for the Saudi-led offensive in neighboring Yemen and ending relevant arms sales.
His decision to reverse a last-minute move by the Trump administration to label Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen as a terrorist organization was welcomed by support groups as a step back from a catastrophic humanitarian disaster in Yemen.
There is also bipartisan support in Congress to hold Saudi Arabia more accountable for its human rights abuses, such as the killing of Khashoggi and the death toll and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Democrats continued to urge Biden to confront Riyadh over allegations that the Saudi government helped its crime-ridden U.S. citizens flee the country to avoid justice.
“The Saudi government has really given its critics a lot of work,” said Hussein Ibish, a resident scientist at the Arab Gulf Institute in Washington, “and even people who support the relationship must say that the Saudi government needs to do better.” , especially with regard to human rights. ”
Riyadh is preparing for a tougher position on the part of the Biden administration. Along the way, Biden called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and promised a stronger hand in relations.
The kingdom has taken a number of steps that regional experts believe are trying to stand up to criticism from the Biden administration. Last month, Riyadh eased the blockade on Qatar that was imposed at the beginning of the Trump administration.
Saudi treatment of arrested activists is also gaining attention as a gesture of goodwill from the kingdom. This includes last month’s decision to reduce the prison sentence of Saudi American doctor Walid al-Fitaihi and the release of Saudi Americans Bader al-Ibrahim and Salah al-Haider pending their trial. Human rights groups have criticized their detentions as efforts to stifle discourse that is critical of Saudi policies.
In addition, prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been released from a Saudi prison after being convicted of terrorism charges. Critics said her detention for more than 1,000 days was politically motivated, and al-Hathloul reportedly told his family that he had been tortured and sexually abused.
Other moves include Riyadh’s efforts to edit textbooks and learning materials to eliminate positive references to religious violence, extremism and intolerance, especially anti-Semitism. The last kingdom announced judicial reforms to codify its laws more in line with international standards.
“I think it’s the Saudi way of saying, ‘We still appreciate the relationship’ with the United States,” Satloff said, adding that the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia “are trying to have, which I like to believe, a thorough, discreet dialogue about it.” ”
On issues of common interest, the Biden administration is strengthening its commitment to Riyadh’s defense capabilities in the face of cross-border attacks by Houthis.
“We will not allow Saudi Arabia to be a target practice,” Timothy Lenderking told US Special Envoy for Yemen on Tuesday.
The administration has given priority to resolving the conflict in Yemen and boxing Iran’s search for a nuclear weapon as the most pressing, major foreign policy concerns – areas in which Saudi Arabia is a central and invested partner.
“Maintaining good relations with the Gulf countries is really important for the other policies to work,” said Ibish of the Gulf Institute.
“On both scores, the Saudis will be key players – direct key players in Yemen and key indirect players in Iran.”
Relations between Washington and Riyadh were strained during the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president, over what the Saudis saw as blinded by the US pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran, the 2015 Comprehensive Joint Action Plan.
Regional experts say the Biden administration will not make the same mistake of freezing Riyadh in talks.
“We had a secret negotiation with Iran outside the competence of the regional allies, those days are gone,” Satloff said.
“I think we want to have a negotiation in which we consult fully with our regional allies, and they are on board as much as we can bring them on board.”