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US-Saudi relations falter following the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post reporter and critic of the Saudi government.
Legislators in Capitol Hill were already losing patience with Saudi Arabia over its military conduct during the Yemeni civil war, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. widespread famine and other havoc.
The alleged assassination of Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul appears to be the last straw for many lawmakers, who have threatened to take various punitive measures, including the cessation of arms sales by the United States to Saudi Arabia, the removal of support for the Yemen campaign impose sanctions.
But President Trump
Donald John TrumpBiden: Trump "destroys American values" The New York Times asks the judge to disclose the search warrants used in the Cohen Trump raid: "Robert E. Lee was a great general" CONTINUED and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, considered the daily leader of the country, have built close relations since Trump took office. Although the president warned this week that there would be a "severe punishment" if it is shown that Saudi Arabia is behind the disappearance of Khashoggi.
Here are five things to look for when trying out US-Saudi relations.
What action will Trump undertake?
Many on Capitol Hill were frustrated with Trump's response to the incident.
The president called Khashoggi's disappearance "no good" and is committed to getting to the bottom of things. But he also said this week that US-Saudi relations remain "excellent" and refuted the idea of sanctions or stopping arms sales, saying the measures would be damaging to US companies.
The Saudis courted Trump immediately after his election, a decision that seemed to bear fruit when his first trip abroad as president took place in Saudi Arabia, where he participated in lavish ceremonies and announced its intention to sell the Saudis $ 110 billion worth of weapons.
Jared Kushner
Jared Corey KushnerTrump will call the King of Saudi Arabia on the disappearance of journalist The Hill's Morning Report – Presented by PhRMA – Dem's victories in 18 will not appease the Trump Party turmoil welcomes Kanye for a meeting surreal in Oval Office PLUS, senior adviser to the White House and son-in-law of the president, has also forged close ties with Prince Mohammed, hoping that it will be an integral part of his peace plan for the Middle East.
National Security Advisor John Bolton said the Saudis were being damaged by leaks in the ongoing investigation in Turkey.
"We need to know the facts and quickly solve the problem, because if it's another operation, people have to understand it," Bolton said in an interview with the company. radio host Hugh Hewitt, broadcast Friday. "I think the Saudis themselves are being damaged, because we do not have the facts in hand."
Will the United States impose sanctions?
Sanctions seem to be the favored mechanism by Capitol Hill to reprimand the Saudis.
Twenty members of the Senate Committee on External Relations sent a letter to Trump this week asking for an investigation under the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard Paul Whistleblowers warn Trump that the Saudi relationship is at stake Trump Jr. denounces Eric Holder: It's the party of "tolerance" ### Scalise: Clinton, Holder comments that civility is a "direct threat to our democracy" MORE (R-Ky.), Who pleads for the end of arms sales by the United States to Saudi Arabia, was the only member not to sign the letter.
Under the Magnitsky law, the president must conduct an investigation if the foreign relations committee so requests. The White House then has 120 days to report to the committee on the imposition of sanctions on the country in question.
Punishing an ally – an actor who has considerable influence and considerable lobbying power on the Hill – would be an extraordinary gesture. Some Democrats are skeptical about the fact that the administration will take the investigation seriously and will impose it afterwards. Under the Magnitsky law, the administration is authorized to lift sanctions for reasons of national security.
On Thursday, the US state department said lawmakers "are getting ahead of themselves".
"I understand that Congress may be interested in this, as part of a global survey on Magnitsky, but we do not know the facts yet," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. A point of press. "So I think they take the lead at this point. We will monitor the situation very closely, very carefully, wait for the facts to be revealed, and then we will get there. "
Nevertheless, lawmakers are hoping that the Magnitsky letter will force Trump to take a tougher stance, as he would have trouble explaining his position if he did not comply with the law's request.
Will this affect the military relationship?
Arms sales and United States support for the Saudi campaign in Yemen are an integral part of the wider Washington-Riyadh relationship. But both were under increasing pressure before the Khashoggi incident.
Lawmakers are frustrated that the Saudi-led coalition continues to bomb civilians in Yemen. In addition, since bombs made in the United States were found at the scene of some of these attacks, lawmakers said the United States should stop selling them to Saudi Arabia.
While the Senate rejected in March the effort to end all US military support for the war in Yemen, 44 senators voted in favor of removing this support, exceeding the expectations of the time .
Similarly, the Senate rejected a resolution to block part of the $ 110 billion arms deal, but it also had a lower vote margin than expected.
Lawmakers are furious at the disappearance of Khashoggi, those who have been campaigning for years to end support for the war in Yemen and stop the sale of weapons say that the wind has turned in their direction.
"I do not think a military sale can pass the Senate today," Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyThe whistleblowers warn Trump that relations with Saudi Arabia are at stake Night Defense – presented by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates – A missing journalist blames US-Saudi ties | Senators push Trump to open an investigation | Trump speaks with Saudi officials | New questions on support for Saudi coalition in Yemen Senators ask for answers on Trump administration support to Saudi coalition in Yemen MORE (D-Conn.) Said this week. "I do not think that could be adopted by the House."
If the administration informs Congress of a new arms sale to Saudi Arabia, lawmakers will have 30 days to block it if they decide to take this aggressive step.
Will Saudi Arabia say it is involved in the disappearance of Khashoggi?
US intelligence reports indicate that Khashoggi's disappearance has touched the highest levels of the Saudi government, including Prince Mohammed.
The Washington Post reported this week that the intercepted talks included Saudi officials citing a plan ordered by Prince Mohammed to lure Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia and keep him in detention.
The post also reported that Turkish officials had audio and video recordings in support of their claim that Khashoggi was allegedly killed inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.
Many observers say that it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia will admit a criminal act, even if it is proven that it is involved, and that the Saudis could instead try to blame rogue actors.
In an apparent effort to avoid this, Turkish officials have leaked to a Turkish newspaper the names and photos of the 15 Saudis involved in the killing of Khashoggi, including a member of the Saudi Internal Security Agency and a lieutenant of the Royal Saudi Air Force. .
The Turks and Saudis, at the request of the kingdom, have now formed a "joint action team" to investigate the disappearance of Khashoggi.
Will commercial links be affected?
A working conference scheduled for the end of the month in Riyadh is already struck by the fury caused by the disappearance of Khashoggi.
Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, the Financial Times and the New York Times have rallied together as sponsors of the Future Investment Initiative conference.
Media personalities who were scheduled to attend also pulled out, including New York Times columnist and CNBC host Andrew Ross Sorkin, economist Zanny Minton Beddoes and owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper Patrick Soon-Shiong.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who was to talk about the future of transport, also withdrew.
treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin
Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: McCarthy Proposes Bill to Fully Fund Trump Border Wall | US to put pressure on China on currency in trade talks | Mnuchin plans to go ahead with a trip to Saudi Arabia | How the gap between urban and rural areas of the United States modifies the GOP Dems The lawmaker asks Mnuchin to cancel his trip to Saudi Arabia. Trump, Xi meeting in November, is on the right track MORE is still scheduled to attend the event, prompting at least one Republican lawmaker to call it.
"Secretary Mnuchin should cancel his trip to Saudi Arabia later this month until the world receives answers about what happened to journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul" , said the representative Jim Banks (Ind.) in a tweet Friday.
A little further, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is scheduled to hold its "Crown Jewel" event in Riyadh next month, as part of a 10-year contract to host events in the kingdom.
WWE told the media on Thursday that "it is monitoring the situation."
This deal had been criticized prior to Khashoggi's disappearance, among other things, because women's struggles are not allowed to participate because of Saudi Arabia's strict religious laws. Brief videos in which female wrestlers were shown at May's "Greatest Royal Rumble" prompted Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority to apologize for "indecent women's scenes".
Some senators said this week that a private company like WWE had the prerogative to do what it wanted. But the situation is a little darker since CEO, Vince McMahon, is married to the small business administrator. Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahonSmall Business Administration is stepping up its communication efforts with Hispanic entrepreneurs. Trump pays a quarterly salary to the Small Business Administration. Trump's Tax Law Has Been Passed: The Last Straight PLUS, who holds a cabinet position in the Trump administration.
"A private company is a private company, different from a government entity," Sen. Bob Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezTrump reduces the goal of refugees to 30,000, he must respect it. Blame the Senate, not the FBI, for the parody of Kavanaugh Dems urges tech companies to remove 3D shots of firearms.said Thursday the highest Democrat of the Committee on External Relations. "But as it is part of the president's cabinet, this falls into a gray area where the administration should really think about the possibility of convincing them not to do it."
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