MBS image being whitewashed ahead of Biden visit

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According to Intelligence Online, the US is attempting to whitewash the image of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), through the Muslim World League (MWL) and the global consulting firm Berkeley research group (BRG) ahead of US President Biden's visit to the Kingdom in a Middle East tour. 

Read more: US lawmakers: Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia "really bad idea"

MWL and BRG are attempting to ease tensions between MBS and the US President by roping BGR in Government Affairs, a lobby familiar with Saudi Arabia.

BRG has previously worked for Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the Somali Ministry of Finance. 

According to Intelligence Online, it is likely to face a difficult challenge in trying to modify the image the American public has toward Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose reputation was severely damaged by the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

See this: Saudi Arabia is no longer a "pariah” for the US

The MWL has also taken a back seat on matters of Saudi Arabia since MBS came into power.

But the league is now back in force in Washington, where it is striving to restore MBS' image by offering a "moderate" vision of Islam promoted by Riyadh. This push aims to pave the way for long-term cooperation, after the US President's visit to the Saudi capital.

Days ago, CNN reported that senior American officials told Saudi Arabia that the US is ready to move forward in restoring the relationship between the countries, ignoring the issue of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Washington named the street in which the Saudi Embassy building is located after journalist Jamal Khashoggi, 'Khashoggi Way', and activists considered Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia a shameful surrender.

After news surfaced regarding the visit to Saudi Arabia and "Israel", those who believed Biden would be a champion for human rights, thus distancing himself from Saudi Arabia, or in his words, the "pariah" state, have gotten what feels like a slap in the face.

According to Foreign Affairs, not only is Biden most likely going to gain nothing from the visit, but it will also forever tarnish his image. 

In May, the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Vice Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman in Washington 

Sullivan reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory, and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s leadership in securing an UN-brokered truce in Yemen. which Saudi Arabia continues to violate.