Tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia remain high, with President Biden having made a campaign promise of distancing himself from the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This promise was part of what was seen as the US eventually backing out of the war in Yemen. Instead, Biden is reportedly setting the stage for a high-profile meeting with the prince. The visit is confirmed for end of June, during Biden’s Europe visits.
Getting out of the Yemen War is an incomplete task for the administration, and with focus seemingly shifting to trying to coax more oil production out of the Saudis, it seems distance is no longer a priority.
Biden is even praising the Saudis’ “courageous leadership” on the Yemen ceasefire, and seemingly tying the US, at least rhetorically, to Saudi policy there.
Quincy Institute’s Trita Parsi warned that “Biden’s hat-in-hand approach will likely exacerbate the long-standing problems in US-Saudi relations,” saying that Salman is “playing hardball with the United States – and Biden just let him win.”
Yes, the price of energy is key; and, Putin holds the ace.
“”Biden’s hat-in-hand approach will likely exacerbate the long-standing problems in US-Saudi relations””
trump just spend his entire 4 years in office having picnics and pajama parties with the saudis.
suddenly whatever biden will do is deemed a “hat-in-hand approach”
I thought I would never, ever say this, but: “LET’S GO BRANDON”!
To threaten. Obviously.