Biden seeks to strengthen strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia

According to IRNA’s Sunday morning report from the Washington Post, Biden wrote in this article, which was published on Saturday (US time), that in his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, his goal is to strengthen a future strategic cooperation based on mutual interests and responsibilities. founded.

Biden stressed that a more secure and integrated Middle East would benefit Americans in many ways, adding that the region’s waterways are essential to global trade.

He also said that America relies on supply chains in the Middle East and the world needs the energy resources of this region to reduce the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine on energy supply in the markets.

Biden clarified: I know that many people are against my decision to travel to Saudi Arabia. My views on human rights are clear and well-known and when I travel abroad, fundamental freedoms are always on the agenda.

According to IRNA, the spokesman of the White House previously announced that Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, will attend the meeting between US President Biden and King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator of the White House National Security Council, said on Thursday local time that the US President’s meetings with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council during his trip to the Middle East will include bilateral talks with the King of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince of this country.

Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been strained for several reasons, including Riyadh’s human rights records, the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Biden’s previous statements that he would reject Saudi Arabia.

American intelligence agencies say that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia is responsible for Khashoggi’s murder, but Saudi Arabia denies these accusations.

After traveling to the occupied territories and the West Bank, Biden will enter Saudi Arabia. He will fly directly from Tel Aviv to Jeddah.

Part of Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia will focus on the meeting of the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

The second part will be related to bilateral relations and will focus on the restoration of relations, Washington’s need to increase oil production from Saudi Arabia and the steps to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and the Zionist regime.

According to the announcement of the White House, in his first trip as US President to the Middle East, on July 13-16 (July 22-25), Biden will visit this region, specifically Israel, the West Bank, and then Saudi Arabia.