Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Social media activists circulated an article by journalist Hisham Melhem, in which he dealt with Saudi-American relations following the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Riyadh, amid wide interaction.
The article was published by Melhem on the Middle East Broadcasting Network “MBN”, and he republished it on his official Twitter page, saying: “A country like Saudi Arabia should not enjoy the umbrella of American protection as if it automatically deserves this protection, or that such protection is a one-way street. And if The rulers of Saudi Arabia did not like it, they can always seek knowledge in China.”
CNN Arabic has reached out to the Saudi authorities for comment, with no response at the time of writing.
The visit of the Chinese president, the manner of his reception, and his comparison with the reception of the US President, Joe Badin, on his recent visit to Riyadh, sparked a wide interaction among activists on social media.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo considered that the Saudi-Chinese rapprochement is a direct result of what he described as “bad American policy,” criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration’s dealings with US allies.
In an interview with “Fox News” channel, Pompeo said, in an interview with “Fox News” channel, in response to a question regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia, that “when you do not become a partner with your friends and allies and insult them, and you do not do anything to respond to your opponents.” Like Xi Jinping, we see this kind of hedging behavior.”
