United States President Joe Biden on Thursday defended his visit to Saudi Arabia to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite condemning the kingdom for the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Before his trip to Saudi Arabia later this week, Biden emphasized his views on the death of Jamal Khashoggi, and his broader record on human rights has long been clear, per Politico.
During a news conference in Israel, Biden said: "I always bring up human rights, but my position on Khashoggi has been so clear if anyone doesn't understand it in Saudi Arabia or otherwise they haven't been around me for a while."
President Biden also reiterated that the main agenda of visiting the Arab state is a more comprehensive meeting with Persian Gulf leaders to address energy and security matters and to promote US interests in an "opportunity to reassert" US influence in the Middle East.
I had the pleasure to join the first leaders meeting of the United States, India, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 14, 2022
Together, the I2U2 will harness the vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit of our nations to tackle some of the greatest challenges confronting our world. pic.twitter.com/wiZCToPlTU
The president's visit to the oil-rich country comes when gas prices in the US have risen sharply, reaching a peak earlier this summer at a nationwide average of more than $5 per gallon.
According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby's statement last month, increased oil production will "absolutely" be discussed when Biden meets with Saudi leadership, along with Iran's "destabilizing" behavior in the region and the kingdom's participation in the ongoing war in Yemen.
Biden Breaks Promise
According to a U.S. intelligence assessment from last year, Bin Salman approved and likely ordered the murder of Khashoggi, a former insider whose Washington Post column had slammed the crown prince's policies.
On October 2, 2018, Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered inside a Saudi consulate in Istanbul. USA Today reported Khashoggi visited the consulate to obtain the documents he needed for his upcoming nuptials.
The crown prince has denied any involvement in Khashoggi's killing.
Biden publicly vowed to condemn Saudi Arabia during his presidential campaign. He has expressed strong reluctance to meet with Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to his advisors and claimed that the nation's leadership "has very little social redeeming value."
In June, President Biden stated that he is "not going to meet with MBS."
However, the White House has since confirmed the meeting, stating that Biden would interact with MBS as part of a bilateral meeting with Saudi King Salman and the country's larger leadership group.
The White House stated that the objective of Biden's Middle East visit is to "recalibrate but not rupture" the relationship with Saudi Arabia. He said there are too many crucial issues at stake to avoid dialogue with the country.
A summit of regional leaders will be held in Saudi Arabia coinciding with Biden's visit. He will also hold meetings with the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan.
POTUS Wants To Make Sure That Iran Won't Get Nuclear Arms
On Thursday, Biden discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid the importance of strengthening regional stability through partnership and ensuring that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon, according to a Washington Post report.
Biden said: "This is a vital security interest to both Israel and the United States and I would add for the rest of the world as well."
The president declared that this would be the main point of his meeting with the Saudis.
Read also: Joe Biden Fires Back at Reporter Over 2024 Presidential Run Question: "They Want Me To Run"
