[ad_1]
Joe Biden first spoke to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman as president, ahead of the release of a U.S. intelligence report that is expected to implicate the Saudi Crown Prince in the 2018 murder of the dissident and columnist of the Washington Post, Jamal Khashoggi.
An account of the White House appeal did not mention the report, but said, in another context, that Biden “affirmed the importance the United States places on universal human rights and rule of law “and that the two discussed the collaboration issues of concern”.
The Saudi embassy in Washington said the two men “confirmed the strength of bilateral relations and discussed Iran’s malicious activities in the region and ways to advance peace in Yemen.”
Biden has been much cooler in Riyadh than Donald Trump, cutting off US support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and refusing to speak directly to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a close ally of Trump, than intelligence services Americans believe they approved and possibly ordered the murder and dismemberment of Khashoggi, after being lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The CIA gave this assessment in a classified briefing to Congress in 2018 and is due to provide an unranked version shortly.
The White House has also strongly suggested that it prepare to take further action against those it holds responsible for the murder. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday that there were areas in which the United States “would voice its concerns and leave open the option of accountability.”
It follows remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan last week in which he said the administration would take further action when the report is released, a remark that has been perceived by human rights activists as opening the door to possible new sanctions against Saudi financial entities, and possibly the crown prince himself.
Thursday night’s call follows two days of anticipation in Washington, after the White House has repeatedly said the two leaders are due to speak “soon.” When the calls failed to materialize on Wednesday and Thursday morning, two sources in the wake of the case told the Guardian that the apparent delay reflected the White House’s difficulty in reaching the king directly. The White House declined to comment.
“Historically, MBS controlled his father’s switchboard,” said a person with close acquaintance with the Saudi royal family.
The White House has made it clear that Biden sees the 85-year-old king as his counterpart, rather than the crown prince, who heads an increasingly repressive regime in Riyadh. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to Prince Mohammed in his role as Minister of Defense.
The White House version of Thursday’s appeal to King Salman underscored the positive aspects of the relationship, saying the president would “work to make the bilateral relationship as strong and transparent as possible.”
The two leaders discussed Yemen and efforts to end the war there, and stressed that the United States will continue to provide military support “to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory against attacks from groups. aligned with Iran ”.
The White House report said Biden “noted positively” the release of political prisoner Loujain al-Hathloul and several Saudi-American activists, and “affirmed the importance the United States places on universal human rights. and the rule of law ”.
[ad_2]
Source link