In a concerted effort to mend strained ties with Saudi Arabia, a critical regional ally, human rights concerns took a backseat during United States (US) President Joe Biden’s visit to the Gulf country last week.
Biden said his visit was aimed at expanding the US-Saudi “strategic partnership” significantly over the next decade and “advancing their mutual interests and advancing a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East,” following separate meetings with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Calling the partnership a “cornerstone of regional security over decades,” a joint statement noted that both countries “affirmed the importance of resolving international disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means.” In a reference to Iran, the joint statement said they stressed the need for “supporting governments in the region facing threats from terrorists or proxy groups backed by outside powers.”
#SaudiUSSummit | a common vision towards stability, prosperity, and peace. 🇸🇦🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1X0dDwxhjJ
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) July 16, 2022
“The two sides underscored the need to further deter Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries, its support for terrorism through its armed proxies, and its efforts to destabilize the security and stability of the region,” it added. The President also reaffirmed that Washington and Riyadh will work together to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Moreover, the document announced the establishment of ‘Combined Task Force 153’ between Saudi and American naval forces to ensure the “free flow of commerce” through the Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz straits.
Biden also reversed his administration’s policy of not supplying offensive weapons to the Kingdom over human rights abuses in Yemen. He affirmed the US’ “continued commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial defence, and facilitating the Kingdom’s ability to obtain necessary capabilities to defend its people and territory against external threats.”
📹 | #Saudi and #US... Solid historical relations 🇸🇦🇺🇸#SaudiUSpartnership#SaudiUSSummit pic.twitter.com/7aIPU4cE2i
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) July 15, 2022
Both sides also discussed the situations in Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Afghanistan and vowed to work together to ensure a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region.
The visit came at a time when US-Saudi ties are at an all-time low. Relations have witnessed a significant downturn since Biden took office in January 2021. Washington blamed MBS for murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi, imposed sanctions on Saudi officials, and stopped providing military aid citing the Kingdom’s human rights violations in Yemen.
The Saudi government retaliated by opting to not ramp up oil production despite repeated US requests in light of rising gas prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has also stepped up economic, defence, and political cooperation with China.
Against this backdrop, Biden had not only promised to reset ties with the monarchy but also raise the issue of human rights during his visit. However, it is unclear whether Biden raised the issue during his meetings with King Salman or MBS. In fact, the joint statement fails to mention whether both sides agreed to respect human rights.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that while Biden and MBS discussed the 2018 murder of Khashoggi, he did not hear the US president blame MBS for the murder, as he has done in the past. However, Biden rejected Jubeir’s remarks after arriving in Washington DC. He simply replied “no” to a question on whether Jubeir was telling the truth and asked reporters to focus on other matters.
Saudis say Biden didn’t tell MBS that he believes he was responsible for Khashoggi’s murder https://t.co/0vfNTGDak0
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) July 16, 2022
Jubeir told Reuters that when Biden raised the issue with MBS, the Crown Prince accused the US of making similar mistakes as well. MBS also asked Biden not to impose values on Saudi Arabia. “It has not worked when the US tried to impose values on Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, it backfired. It does not work when people try to impose values by force on other countries,” Jubeir quoted MBS as saying.
That being said, MBS acknowledged that Khashoggi’s murder was a “terrible mistake”, but reiterated previous statements that he has already punished all responsible [rogue agents] and denied any responsibility.
Moreover, while reports indicated there was a strong possibility that Biden would push Riyadh to normalise relations with Israel, the joint statement did not provide any hint on the matter.
"I'm not going to meet with MBS. I'm going to an international meeting, and he's going to be part of it." -- President Biden (June 17, 2022) https://t.co/z3KfXBh9qx
— Matt Viser (@mviser) July 15, 2022
Following Biden’s visit Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan confirmed that the Kingdom does not have any plans to normalise ties with Israel any time soon and that Riyadh is not involved in creating a regional air defence system that includes Israel. Farhan added that Saudi Arabia’s recent decision to open its airspace to all carriers, including Israeli flights, had nothing to with establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.
Farhan’s remarks followed multiple reports indicating that Washington was increasingly confident that Riyadh would take steps to join the 2020 Abraham Accords, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco normalise ties with Israel.
Biden was also criticised by his own party members for the visit. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders said Biden’s visit would only give the Saudis more ammunition to crack down on critics and activists. “You have a leader of the country who was involved in the murder of a Washington Post journalist. I don’t think that type of government should be rewarded with a visit by the president of the United States,” Sanders told ABC News on Sunday.
Biden’s visit to the Kingdom also came as human organisations urged him to raise the Khashoggi murder with MBS and refrain from providing Saudi Arabia with weapons. Human Rights Watch said that renewing offensive weapons sales to Riyadh would further undermine Biden’s promise to “prioritise human rights in US relations with the country.”