CNN quoted sources as saying that “the reason for canceling bin Salman’s visit to China is not the overlap in his schedule as mentioned at the time, but rather his keenness to listen to Biden’s call.”
According to CNN sources, “Mohammed bin Salman listened to Biden’s call, but he did not speak.”
Bin Salman had failed to attend the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, despite prior assurances of his intention to travel to Beijing.
The network stated that the Saudi embassy in Washington refused to comment on this information.
And CNN pointed out that this call paved the way for the travel of two senior White House administration officials to Saudi Arabia, as Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, Biden’s top envoys for national security and energy to the region, visited Riyadh three days after the call.
She added that their visit included “a face-to-face meeting for hours with Mohammed bin Salman and a number of senior Saudi officials, including Mohammed bin Salman’s half-brother, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy.”
This report comes days after the media circulated allegations that Bin Salman refused to answer Biden’s call.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the leaders of the UAE and Saudi Arabia refused to make phone calls with Biden, who wanted to discuss the situation on Ukraine, and the possibility of increasing oil production.
While White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a press conference, that the reports that bin Salman had refused a call from President Biden were false, following up on that “there were no rejected calls.”
She noted that Biden actually spoke to King Salman weeks ago.