Summary:
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The non sequitur made by Biden serves as a good metaphor for the administration’s approach to Saudi Arabia, which has been revealed to be a bizarre concoction of cynicism, erratic rhetorical changes, and incompetence.
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Then, in a humiliating attempt to patch things up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the rise in oil prices, Biden hurried to Saudi Arabia in July.
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The Biden White House announced that it is reevaluating ties with Saudi Arabia.
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The staff of Bin Salman has leaked insulting remarks about Biden.
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What if there is indeed a critical mass of Democrats who are sufficiently upset with the Saudi government to demand the end of the alliance?
A reporter questioned President Joe Biden on Tuesday at a White House event promoting vaccinations, “What’s your reaction to the Saudis on oil pushing the U.S. not to utilise the reserves?” Biden held off. A second reporter may begin asking another question because there was an adequate time during the quiet. Get your Covid shot, Biden instructed the first reporter as he grinned. The non sequitur made by Biden serves as a good metaphor for the administration’s approach to Saudi Arabia, which has been revealed to be a bizarre concoction of cynicism, erratic rhetorical changes, and incompetence.
Regarding the Saudi government’s human rights violations, including the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the US intelligence community has determined was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden entered the White House promising to treat them as a pariah regime. Then, in a humiliating attempt to patch things up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the rise in oil prices, Biden hurried to Saudi Arabia in July. The awful photo remembers this trip of Biden and Bin Salman shaking hands. Biden left the trip reportedly confident that the Saudi government had pledged to increase oil output to counteract shortages brought on by the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. But the Saudi government led an OPEC Plus initiative to reduce oil production, which the Biden administration views as a betrayal.
“What happened over the last half-year is a story of handshake agreements, hopeful thinking, missed signals, and finger-pointing over broken pledges,” the lengthy New York Times article assessing the saga concluded. According to the newspaper, Democratic members who saw the diplomatic history as part of congressional oversight were “left angry that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman misled the administration.”
Some Democrats have threatened retaliation because they believe the Saudi cutback was intended to benefit both Putin and the Republican party. “What Saudi Arabia did to enable Putin to continue to fight his vile, terrible war against Ukraine will long be remembered by Americans,” spat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Biden White House announced that it is reevaluating ties with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government, however, does not appear concerned. The extraordinary arrogance shown by Saudi officials instead indicates that they believe they are in control and that the Biden administration will have to endure any humiliation since the US needs Saudi oil so severely. The staff of Bin Salman has leaked insulting remarks about Biden. According to sources within the Saudi government, Bin Salman “mocks President Biden in private, poking light of the 79-year-gaffes old’s and questioning his mental capacity. According to the people, he has expressed to advisers his disinterest in Mr. Biden since his time as vice president and his preference for former President Donald Trump.
