[ad_1]
In Istanbul, new heinous details about the alleged assassination of dissident and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will soon appear. Nevertheless, each passing day, it is possible that his fate is resolved in a complete and transparent way, as several European states, including Switzerland, have asked – and officially also the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Since the jubilant dinner of his foreign minister with the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and his telephone conversation with Trump, it is predictable: the royal court remains in disavowal; he will not accept anything that could compromise the man highly suspected of having ordered Khashoggi's assassination. And Trump seems to be content with a legend that exonerates Riyadh of all responsibility, against all evidence.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives gloomy clues and lets the investigators' conclusions filter. Officially, however, he makes no allegations against the kingdom, reveals no evidence. They were presented in the United States in the hope of forcing Riyadh to be flagrant. But Trump puts his Middle East agenda on the Enlightenment. His trade relations with the royal family may do the rest, but he first needs Riyadh to be able to maintain his policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran. If he wants to cut Tehran's oil exports, Saudi Arabia will have to step in. Rising oil and gas prices are poisoning the middle presidential election in the United States and are the main obstacle to international monitoring.
Repression of dissidents
Since the beginning of his term, Trump has become the guardian of Saudi interests and intends to enforce the agreement of a century of peace in the Middle East with the Crown Prince, de facto to Israeli conditions. Muhammad bin Salman is the first Saudi leader to break with the traditional Arab position on the Palestinian issue, as long as Trump will only face his regional rival, Iran. It is a symbiosis with the unifying goal of reversing the opening of American foreign policy in the Middle East under President Barack Obama.
Europe's relationship with the largest oil monarchy is not based on shared values, but on tangible, often economic, interests. The long-standing support of Islamist extremists by Saudi Arabia, which the Crown Prince now wants to stop, has been neglected. The violation of human rights has been at best criticized with shame. The Saudi market is too lucrative, even for weapons. The Sunni power for stability and balance in the region seemed too important.
The fact that the Crown Prince is liberalizing Saudi society and pushing back the influence of ultra-conservative clerics is to be hailed as the repression against all who think differently. European governments, committed to a values-based foreign policy and defending a rules-based international order, can not ignore it – unlike Trump – as little as they do in the Khashoggi case.
Erdogan as defender of the free press
The senseless bombings in Yemen, the inconsiderate blockade of Qatar, and the radical attitude of Riad towards Tehran are also contrary to European interests. Nevertheless, do not be deceived: there are no easy partners between the Gulf and the Levant, where the fundamental interests of Europe are still affected. Tehran's increasingly aggressive regional policy is as problematic as that of the Saudis. Iran is not afraid of brutal methods either. And it is ironic to see Turkish President Erdogan becoming the defender of the free press.
Several EU countries want to draw conclusions when survey results are available. Europeans should make it clear to Riyadh that they are serious about complete enlightenment. Until now, Saudi Arabia has hardly contributed. If that remains, the Europeans should check the relationship with Riyadh. This is supported by moral considerations, questions of credibility, but also by hard political interests – which are not, however, served by a break in relations. Europeans have few options to choose from. Once again, they risk seeing their helplessness manifest in the region, which is so important to them.
(Editors Tamedia)
Created: 18.10.2018, 19:36 hours ago
Source link
