The White House announced today, Tuesday, that President Joe Biden decided to visit Saudi Arabia, and he will meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and discuss files with them, including oil and Iran.
The White House said that Biden will make his first visit to the Middle East next July, including Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian territories and Israel.
And the official Saudi Press Agency reported today that US President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia on July 15-16, and he will meet the King of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince.
"We expect the president to meet the Crown Prince" during his visit to the kingdom, an American official said, adding that "American policy required a reassessment of relations (...) not a rupture."
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden will raise the issue of human rights during his visit to Saudi Arabia, and will hold talks on issues including the fight against terrorism.
The visit schedule will include a summit called by the Saudi king that includes the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.
Kirby said US President Joe Biden will discuss energy production during his trip this month to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.
Energy, Yemen and Iran
Kirby told MSNBC - in an interview after the White House announced the details of Biden's trips - that "oil production will be part of that discussion," referring to the decision of the group of oil-producing countries called "OPEC Plus" in order to boost production.
"Obviously there will be some discussions about energy production," he added.
White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said that during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Biden will discuss a range of bilateral, regional and global issues with his Arab counterparts.
She indicated that the discussions will include support for the UN-brokered armistice in Yemen, as well as ways to expand regional economic and security cooperation, including promising new infrastructure and climate initiatives, in addition to "deterring Iranian threats", promoting human rights, and ensuring energy and global food security. .
The French news agency quoted Biden as seeking to persuade the Saudis to increase their oil production, in order to stop the rise in fuel prices and inflation in his country, which is witnessing legislative elections next November.
This election is accurate for the Democratic Party, to which Biden belongs.
And the French news agency quoted a US official as saying that President Biden will hold a virtual summit in which India, Israel and the UAE will participate.