Status: 07/15/2022 11:11 p.m
US President Biden addressed a sensitive issue with the murder of journalist Khashoggi right at the beginning of his visit to Saudi Arabia. He warned Crown Prince bin Salman that the US would not let another such act go unanswered.
After his arrival in Saudi Arabia, US President Joe Biden met the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – and, according to his own statements, addressed the murder of Saudi government critic Jamal Khashoggi right at the beginning.
However, bin Salman has denied any responsibility. “He basically said he wasn’t personally responsible. I implied that I think he is,” Biden said after the Jeddah meeting. “I don’t regret anything I said. What happened to Khashoggi was outrageous.”
Biden warns bin Salman of future acts of violence
The journalist Khashoggi, who lives in the USA, was brutally killed by a hit squad in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. US intelligence services hold Crown Prince bin Salman, also known by his acronym “MbS,” as directly responsible. He denies ordering the killing.
Biden said he had warned the heir to the throne against future acts of violence: Another act like the murder of Khashoggi would result in a “response” from the United States.
US soldiers on Saudi island to withdraw
The US President also announced the withdrawal of US soldiers who are part of a peacekeeping mission on the island of Tiran in the Red Sea. A multinational observer force has been stationed on the island opposite Sharm el-Sheikh at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba since the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1981 – at that time the island still belonged to Egypt.
In 2017 it was awarded to Saudi Arabia, which wants to develop the island for tourism. Israel had to agree to the decision to withdraw the peacekeeping force – the move is therefore taken as an indication that Israel and Saudi Arabia want to normalize their relations.
Cool greeting for the US President
Biden’s arrival in the Gulf monarchy – the last stop on his Middle East trip – was cold. Upon arriving at the royal palace in Jeddah, he and Crown Prince bin Salman only briefly clashed fists. After that they had walked on without further discussion.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets US President Joe Biden with a fist salute at Al Salman Palace in Jeddah.
Photo: VIA REUTERS
Before the start of the trip to the Middle East, the White House had announced that Biden wanted to avoid physical contact as much as possible. The official reason given was the corona virus. “We try to minimize contact as much as possible,” emphasized Bidens spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre on board the presidential plane.
Some US journalists, on the other hand, speculated that photos of a handshake with the crown prince should be avoided. This is criticized, among other things, because of the poor human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Biden has had to defend his meeting with him against criticism for weeks.
Shake hands with the king
The journalists’ suspicions appeared to be true a little later: when meeting King Salman in the evening, the two heads of state shook hands for several seconds. Such gestures always play a major role in international diplomacy. With his trip to Saudi Arabia, Biden wants to get bilateral relations out of the crisis.