Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia: behind the scenes of the symbolic iron fist with the crown prince

A fist between the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Saudi crown prince, Mohamed bin Salman, this Friday served to close the chapter on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, one of the darkest in the relationship between the two nations.

The greeting between Biden and Bin Salmán was cold. The prince met the American at the entrance to the Al Salam Royal Palace in Jeddah and, just as the president stepped out of his black limo, approached to punch his fist using a form of greeting that became popular during the pandemic.

They did not smile, the gesture lasted a few seconds and then turned to enter the building, according to images from Saudi state television Al Ejbariya.

From “outcast” to partner

The image had an immediate repercussion because it contradicted the promises made by Biden during the 2020 election campaign, when he pledged to treat Saudi Arabia as a “pariah” on the international stage and to make its leaders pay a “price”. “for the 2018 murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Even shortly after arriving at the White House, Biden declassified a report in which the CIA accused Bin Salmán of approving the operation that led to the journalist’s death and dismemberment.

Pending the impact that the salute would have, the White House announced at the start of the Middle East tour that Biden, 79, would not shake hands with other leaders as a precaution against covid-19, although later in Israel concluded by giving hugs to some of the leaders.

Biden shook hands this Friday with the king of Saudi Arabia, Salmán bin Abdulaziz, instead of greeting his son, according to photographs distributed by the official Saudi news agency SPA.

behind closed doors

Despite the pressure on Biden not to see Bin Salman, the meeting happened because The US must repair relations with Saudi Arabia to help lower oil prices, triggered by the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russia.

According to the White House, oil was one of the central themes of the meeting between Biden and Bin Salmán.

The content of that meeting, however, was not disclosed. Biden and bin Salman made brief statements at the start of the meeting, but the Saudi authorities did not allow reporters to use specialized audio equipment to pick up their voices, so they could not be heard.

Only the two delegations could be seen sitting at a table, facing each other, and with Biden and Bin Salmán face to face.

At the end of the comments, a reporter asked Biden if he still considered Saudi Arabia a “pariah”, while another reporter from the US network NBC, addressing Bin Salman, shouted: “Jamal Khashoggi, will you apologize to his family. ? “

None of the leaders responded and Bin Salman was only seen smiling at questions from the press, who was expelled from the room. The NBC reporter said on Twitter that a Saudi adviser took him by the arm.

It is not known whether the two leaders discussed the Khashoggi issue. during your meeting White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refused to say whether Biden intended to mention it, although he assured that he would talk about respect for human rights, which he tried to do with the axis of the its foreign policy.

In statements to EFE, Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi’s girlfriend, said she felt “sad and disappointed” after seeing the meeting between Biden and Bin Salman, but reiterated her intention to fight “until justice prevails”.

Reapproximation between Israel and Saudi Arabia

Indirectly, the visit of the head of the White House served to bring about a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which have no diplomatic relations.

Hours before Biden’s arrival in the city of Jeddah, the kingdom announced that it will henceforth allow all civilian aircraft to fly over its territory, which basically serves to authorize flights to and from the Jewish state.

This change will allow Israeli airlines to significantly shorten routes to China, India or Thailand.

The announcement came after months of negotiations by the Biden administration with Israel and Saudi Arabia, its two major allies in the Middle East and with whom it wants to strengthen relations now that it seems to be the possibility of an agreement with Iran to revive the elusive nuclear deal.

The Biden administration also made it clear that his Middle East trip seeks reaffirm American power and curb any attempt by China or Russia to influence the region.

Source: EFE

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