US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, as confirmed by a State Department spokesperson. This meeting signifies the most recent development in the ongoing efforts to improve relations between the United States government and the de facto leader of a significant US ally.
Photo Credit: ANI
According to a statement by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Tuesday, both individuals expressed their mutual dedication to promoting stability, security, and prosperity throughout the Middle East and other regions.
Miller stated that their commitment encompasses “a broad-ranging political accord aimed at attaining peace, prosperity, and security in Yemen.” He further highlighted that Blinken emphasised the significance of advancements in human rights to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
In recent years, the relationship between the two nations has experienced tensions, primarily due to the torture and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A US intelligence report implicated the Crown Prince as responsible for this heinous act.
However, in light of the fluctuating oil prices witnessed over the past year, with Saudi Arabia announcing a reduction in oil production starting in July to stabilize crude prices, the Biden administration has endeavoured to renew its engagement with the kingdom.
In the statement, Miller noted that Blinken and bin Salman engaged in a conversation regarding the expansion of economic collaboration, with a particular focus on the clean energy and technology sectors.
The statement mentioned that Blinken expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s assistance in facilitating the evacuation of numerous U.S. citizens from Sudan. Additionally, Blinken acknowledged the Kingdom’s continued partnership in diplomatic talks aimed at halting the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
According to a US official who briefed the travelling press, the meeting lasted one hour and 40 minutes. During this time, they also discussed the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel and mutually agreed to maintain an ongoing dialogue on the subject.
As per the travel summary released by the State Department, Blinken’s agenda included engaging with Saudi officials to address strategic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia concerning regional and global matters.
The discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of bilateral subjects, including economic collaboration and security cooperation. Furthermore, Blinken also participated in meetings of the US-Gulf Cooperation Council and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
On Tuesday afternoon, US Secretary Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia
He is scheduled to proceed to Riyadh on Wednesday to continue with additional meetings. During his speech to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC on Monday, Blinken stated that the topic of discussion during his trip would include the possibility of Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing their relations.
Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia made a significant announcement regarding a production cut, which happens to be its largest in several years. This decision will result in a reduction of its daily output to 9 million barrels.
The announcement followed a gathering of the OPEC+ alliance in Vienna, which comprises members from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia, and other smaller producers.
When questioned about the decision to reduce production before Blinken’s visit, Vedant Patel, the deputy State Department spokesperson, pointed out that gasoline prices in the United States have generally decreased from the peak levels observed a year ago.
During a briefing, Vedant Patel expressed the view that supply needs to align with demand. The statement emphasized the commitment to collaborate with both producers and consumers to ensure that energy markets contribute to economic growth and result in lower prices for American households. This objective remains the primary focus of their efforts.
During his election campaign, former candidate Joe Biden pledged to treat Saudi Arabia as an international pariah and hold them accountable for the murder of Khashoggi.
However, he deviated from that promise by visiting the country last year and engaging in a fist bump with the crown prince, which provided the Saudi government with a photo opportunity. This action sparked outrage among human rights organizations.
During that period, the president justified his actions by emphasizing the importance of his visit to Saudi Arabia for the security of the United States. In an op-ed piece published in The Washington Post, Biden explained, “As the president, it is my responsibility to ensure the strength and security of our nation. We must confront Russia’s aggressive behaviour, position ourselves favourably to compete with China, and strive for increased stability in a region that holds significant global influence.”
