US President Joe Biden, who is visiting Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, met with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad, who has been the subject of criticism over the human rights situation.
As gasoline prices continue to rise, President Biden said, "I look forward to a response in the coming weeks," and expressed hope for increased crude oil production by Saudi Arabia and others.
President Biden, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, met with King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad in western Jeddah on the 15th, alleging that he was involved in the killing of journalists who were critical of the government.
At a press conference after the meeting, President Biden said, "I clearly stated that we would not silently overlook human rights issues that do not fit our values," and emphasized that he had raised human rights issues on the Saudi side.
In addition, as gasoline prices continue to rise record-breakingly, President Biden said, "I hope that a response will be made in the coming weeks," and expressed expectations for an increase in crude oil production by Saudi Arabia and other countries.
He also praised Saudi Arabia for paving the way for Israeli civilian aircraft to pass through the airspace, which it had not previously admitted without diplomatic relations.
With this visit, the Biden administration has taken the lead in repairing relations with Saudi Arabia, which had been chilled due to the human rights situation.
On the other hand, at the meeting, attention was paid to how President Biden would deal with Crown Prince Muhammad, who had been the subject of criticism, but the two did not shake hands and were dressed as fists.
Crown Prince Muhammad welcomes President Biden at the royal palace
On the 15th, Saudi Arabia's state news agency released a video of Crown Prince Muhammad welcoming US President Joe Biden, who is visiting western Jeddah, at the royal palace.
Instead of shaking hands, the footage shows the moment when the two fists butt together.
The Byden administration has accused the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote a critical article on the Saudi Arabian government, for the involvement of Prince Muhammad over the murder of Saudi Arabian government officials and others in 2018. ..
For this reason, the U.S. side seems to be in a position not to show close contact with Crown Prince Muhammad in order to avoid being criticized for making concessions due to human rights issues, and attention is being paid to whether President Biden will shake hands with Crown Prince. I was gathering.
On the other hand, it seems that the Saudi Arabian government wanted to release this video promptly and appeal for the improvement of relations with the United States.
Khashoggi's former fiancé "The blood of the victim is in your hands"
The image of the moment when President Biden and Crown Prince Muhammad butt their fists is spread on the Internet and has become a hot topic.
Among them, Hatige Jengiz, who was the fiancé of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who criticized the Saudi Arabian government and was killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in 2018, said on Twitter that `` Jamal Khashoggi is likely to post today. I posted an image as if it was posted from the account that Mr. Khashoggi used to use.
There, along with an image of President Biden and Prince Muhammad butt their fists, "President, is this an explanation for my promised murder? The blood of the Crown Prince's next victim is in your hands. It is sarcastic that President Biden, who has blamed the case so far, has fisted with Crown Prince Muhammad.
US think tank “Difficult to lower gasoline prices”
"There is very little that President Biden can do to reduce gasoline and global oil prices," said Samantha Gross, a researcher on energy issues at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in the United States. I'm trying to do something about it. "
On top of that, regarding the fact that crude oil prices are soaring due to the influence of the situation in Ukraine, "Saudi Arabia and UAE = United Arab Emirates, where President Biden requests an increase in production, have some spare capacity, but still the amount of crude oil produced in Russia. It will be difficult to make up for this. Furthermore, since oil-producing countries are profiting from soaring crude oil prices, it is difficult to have a motive to increase production. " I showed my point of view.
Biden administration and Saudi Arabia
The United States has built a close relationship, such as choosing Saudi Arabia as the first foreign visit after President Trump took office and deciding to sell a large amount of weapons, while the Biden administration has taken a strict look at the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. The relationship was cold.
Symbolic was the involvement of Prince Muhammad, who is in control of the Byden administration, over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote a critical article on the Saudi Arabian government, in 2018 by Saudi Arabian government officials and others. It is the publication of a report that allegedly did.
President Biden has spoken to King Salman and has avoided contact with Crown Prince Muhammad.
However, with record high gasoline prices and growing dissatisfaction among Americans, the Biden administration is taking steps to restore relations with Saudi Arabia, one of the world's leading oil producers.
In June, Saudi Arabia was evaluated by name when it was decided to increase production by discussions with oil-producing countries, and in April, a new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who had been absent since the inauguration of the Biden administration, was appointed. rice field.
However, there have been criticisms that this visit to Saudi Arabia was concessed due to human rights issues in order to increase crude oil production and curb price hikes.