The White House in the United States announced on the 14th that President Biden will visit Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East from the 13th of next month.
As gasoline prices continue to rise, it seems that the aim is to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, one of the world's leading oil-producing countries, and promote an increase in crude oil production.
The White House in the United States issued a statement on the 14th, stating that President Biden will visit Israel, the Palestinian Interim Autonomous Region on the west bank of the Jordan River, and Saudi Arabia from the 13th to the 16th of next month.
As global crude oil prices continue to rise against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine, President Biden wants to visit Saudi Arabia, which is one of the world's leading oil-producing countries and leads the OPEC = Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to encourage increased crude oil production. It seems that there is an aim.
The Biden administration, which emphasizes human rights issues, released a report four years ago that Crown Prince Muhammad approved the plan for the murder of a Saudi journalist in Turkey. It's getting cold.
President Biden will also meet with Crown Prince Muhammad during his visit to Saudi Arabia, and senior Biden administration officials said, "I haven't changed my position on human rights issues." If possible, the president will do so, "he said, asking for his understanding.
What is your attitude towards Saudi Arabia so far?
The Biden administration in the United States has been paying close attention to the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
In the United States, since the president visited Saudi Arabia as his first overseas destination under the former Trump administration, he has deepened his relationship with Crown Prince Muhammad, who leads economic policy.
However, the Biden administration, which emphasizes human rights issues, will take a strict stance toward Saudi Arabia by revising its policy.
In 2015, Crown Prince Muhammad announced that he would suspend military support for Saudi Arabia over the civil war in Yemen, which is facing a serious humanitarian crisis.
In 2018, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi released a report saying that Crown Prince Muhammad approved the murder at the Saudi Consulate General in Turkey.
However, when international crude oil prices soar against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine, President Biden calls on Saudi Arabia, which leads the OPEC = Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to cooperate for a stable supply of energy.
In addition, when OPEC Plus, a framework for adjusting crude oil production by OPEC member countries, decided to increase production this month, it issued a statement evaluating Saudi Arabia's response.
He also commented on the Yemeni Civil War, saying it would appreciate Saudi Arabia's leading role in achieving a total ceasefire.
Attention will be paid to how the Saudi Arabian side will respond to this attitude of the United States during this visit by President Biden.