【Text/Observer Network Zhou Yibo】
On July 13, local time, US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel to launch a four-day visit to the Middle East. On the 15th, Biden will travel to Saudi Arabia to usher in the most controversial part of the trip.
The so-called controversy refers to the fact that the United States has been dissatisfied with Saudi Arabia because of "human rights issues". In the case of the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi, Biden has vowed to make the Saudi royal family a "pariah.". Nowadays, Biden wants to go to the door to ask Saudi Arabia to increase oil production, which is a "face-punching behavior" in the eyes of American scholars and politicians, whether from the perspective of "human rights" or "American energy independence" independence.
But even if he "punches in the face", Biden believes that he has a reason to go to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Washington Post, on July 14, Biden said at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Rapid that the United States is competing with China and Russia for international influence, and that alienating Saudi Arabia will harm the interests of the United States, hoping to use this visit to reaffirm the influence of the United States in the Middle East to prevent the formation of "a vacuum jointly filled by Russia and China."
Bloomberg analysis said that Biden's trip will face the risk of "nothing", not only acknowledging the failure of his Saudi policy, but also disappointing those Democrats who adhere to principles and promote clean energy transition on human rights issues, or will cause The Democratic Party to lose control of Congress before the midterm elections in November this year.
Screenshot of the Washington Post report
According to the Washington Post and the White House website, on July 14, Biden and Rapid held a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel, during which they were asked by reporters what they would say to the Saudi leaders about the killing of Khashoggi and other human rights issues.
However, Biden did not respond positively, saying only that "my views on the Khashoggi case are very clear, and I have never been silent when talking about human rights issues."
"My reasons for going to Saudi Arabia are a little more far-reaching than that, and it's for the good of the United States." Biden went on to say, "I think we have an opportunity to reaffirm our influence in the Middle East." ”
"We can continue to play a leadership role in the region, rather than creating a vacuum, a vacuum for Russia and China to fill together – against the interests of Israel and the United States, as well as many other countries."
Biden also said the purpose of the visit was to coordinate with the heads of state of the nine countries on issues that serve the interests of the United States, "and I believe that Israel's interests are the same."
According to Biden's visit itinerary, he will attend the Arab regional summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and meet with the leaders of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Biden (left) meets with Rapid in Jerusalem on July 14 Image source: Visual China
It is worth noting that as soon as Biden's voice dropped, the reporter who asked the question immediately asked, "So you are not going to raise human rights issues [to the Saudi leadership]?" ”
"I would propose... I have been raising the issue of human rights. "My position on Khashoggi is very clear. If anyone doesn't understand, whether in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, these people must have not been seen for a while. ”
Biden, published on the White House website, answered reporters' questions
According to the Saudi State News Agency's aid to quote the Saudi King's Office, Biden will visit Saudi Arabia from July 15 to 16, and meet with the Saudi king and crown prince respectively during the visit.
Information released by the U.S. Public Affairs Television Network (C-SPAN) shows that at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the 15th, Biden will attend the welcoming ceremony held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Screenshot of the C-SPAN website
In fact, as early as the plan was disclosed in advance by some US media, Biden began to be attacked by many parties, including human rights activists, media personalities and some Democrats. One of the reasons behind this is the "harsh words" and alienation policies that Biden has made to Saudi Arabia.
In 2018, Saudi journalist Khashoggi, who had written an op-ed for The Washington Post, was dismembered and killed, and the US report believed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the incident, motivated by "dissidents" on the other side. During the 2019 Trump administration, Biden vowed to make the Saudi royal family a "pariah" because of this incident. Since Biden became president of the United States, U.S.-Saudi relations have also been at a low ebb.
The New York Times previously reported that Biden's decision to visit Saudi Arabia now effectively lifted his "untouchables" about Saudi Arabia.
Fred Ryan, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, also slammed Biden for "bowing his knees to Jeddah and holding hands with bloodied 'untouchables'".
Khashoggi's fiancée, Hattis Janjiz, also called Biden's breach of promise "disappointing" in an op-ed in The Washington Post and accused Biden of pursuing "double standards" on similar issues.
"You have condemned Russia for 'persecuting dissidents' and committing 'war crimes' in Ukraine." Hattis Janjiz writes, "The Saudis are also committing horrific human rights violations, so why would you turn a blind eye to them?" Is it because of the price of oil? ”
Sanam Wajir, an expert in the Gulf region at britain's Chatham Institute, said that the United States' choice to cheer Saudi Arabia at this time is tantamount to "punching in the face." On another level, countries under the Ukrainian-Russian conflict began to seek energy independence, while Biden ran to Saudi Arabia to ask for oil, which is another "face-punching act" in the eyes of Us Congressman Ashley Hinson of Iowa.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Source: The Paper
Some analysts believe that Biden's refusal to say whether he will file a case of Khashoggi's murder against the Saudi royal family is aimed at freeing Salman from responsibility.
"He (Biden) sidestepped his promise to bring Khashoggi's case to Saudis, including Salman." Bruce Riddle, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, an American think tank, said, "As a result, any reason for accountability is gone." ”
Another view is that given Saudi Arabia's central position in the Middle East, the Biden administration's move is helpless.
Catullis, deputy director of policy at the Middle East Institute, a U.S.-based nonprofit, said, "The Biden team has moved from 'adolescence' to a 'slightly mature phase,' i.e., 'We're unhappy about this, but what can we do?'" ’”
"You can't get that guy out of office, so we have to make the most of this very tough situation, and there are countless similar examples of U.S. policy in the Middle East."
At the press conference on the 14th, Biden said that the goal of regional stability and global stability is the main content of his talks with Saudi Arabia.
"When I meet with the Saudi leader tomorrow (15th), I will send a direct message." "It's a sign of peace, and a more stable, integrated region can bring extraordinary opportunities to the region as well as the rest of the world," Biden said. ”
On July 9, Biden also posted in the Washington Post that the visit was aimed at strengthening the "strategic partnership" between the two countries. As President of the United States, his job is to "keep the country strong and secure" in response to China and Russia. The Middle East's energy supply is "critical," and he must engage with Saudi Arabia to maintain an "integrated and more stable Middle East."
Bloomberg said that the core reason for Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia is to "seek assistance to cope with soaring oil prices" and to try to isolate Russia at the diplomatic level.
However, the Wall Street Journal previously quoted Saudi officials as saying that Saudi Arabia's relationship with Russia has become closer than ever, and Riyadh has no plans to break ties with Moscow or extract more crude oil to help the U.S. government deal with the energy crisis.
Bloomberg analysis said that Biden's trip will face the risk of "nothing", not only acknowledging the failure of his Saudi policy, but also disappointing those Democrats who adhere to principles and promote clean energy transition on human rights issues, or will cause The Democratic Party to lose control of Congress before the midterm elections in November this year.
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