United States: White House wants to "recalibrate" its relationship with Saudi Arabia
Joe Biden wants to "recalibrate" his relationship with Saudi Arabia (illustrative image).
REUTERS - CARLOS BARRIA
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The White House confirms its intention to "recalibrate" its relationship with Saudi Arabia.
While Donald Trump has often been accused of turning a blind eye to the issue of human rights, Joe Biden announces that he wants to publish an explosive declassified CIA report on the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi.
This report confirms the direct role of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salman in the execution of the Saudi journalist, columnist for the “Washington Post”.
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With our correspondent in the United States,
Éric de Salve
Joe Biden “
will not remain silent
, said the White House spokeswoman,
when he has concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights violation;
he will say it loud and clear
”.
Quite the opposite - in short - of its predecessor.
In 2018, after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, Donald Trump refused to point out the responsibility of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salman, the main buyer of arms from the United States.
Everything changes
But now everything changes with Joe Biden.
A month after coming to power, the new president wants to redefine this relationship with Riyadh.
First act of this recalibration: declassification of an explosive CIA report;
according to this report, Mohammed ben Salman approved and probably even ordered the assassination of the Saudi journalist and American resident who criticized his exercise of power in the columns of the
Washington Post
.
Accountable
Before the publication of this report, Joe Biden makes it known that he will meet with King Salman but not with his son MBS, yet de facto ruler of the kingdom and privileged interlocutor of Trumpist diplomacy.
And the Biden administration does not intend to stop there.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has already announced that Wahsington will hold those responsible for the murder to account.
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See also: Yemen: the Houthis removed from the American blacklist of terrorist groups
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