US President Joe Biden said, on Friday, that he is on the way to a first trip to the Middle East, adding that “the tour plan has not been completed yet.” Biden expected, at the same time, that the tour would include meetings with Israeli leaders and leaders of some Arab countries, pointing to the possibility that it would include Saudi Arabia.
Answering reporters’ questions at the White House, Biden said, “I don’t have final plans right now, but I’m engaged in work to bring more stability and peace to the Middle East.” He added, “There is a possibility that I will meet with the Israelis and the leaders of some Arab countries… I expect that this will include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Biden announced that he wants to discuss during his tour reducing the conflicts and absurd wars between Israel and the Arab countries, explaining that this issue is what he will focus on if he meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He pointed to positive results achieved during the visit of White House officials to the Kingdom.
White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre had acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s role in achieving consensus within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and praised the efforts and leadership of King Salman and the Crown Prince in extending the humanitarian truce in Yemen under the leadership of the United Nations.
In Tel Aviv, political sources reported that Biden’s tour will start in Israel on June 23, and he will move to the Palestinian territories the next day, and he may meet with the leaders of the Gulf states.
Over the past eight decades, Saudi-US relations have remained strong, and have not been affected or changed even with the most violent tremors they have been subjected to. The two historic visits made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the United States during 2016 and 2018 played a key role in strengthening relations.
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