Mossad chief secretly visited DC to discuss Saudi normalization
3 Min Read
Normalization is only one part of the US administration's efforts, as the Israeli government wants to weigh in on potential US-Saudi bilateral agreements that could affect the occupation's "security."
-
US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrive for the family photo during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit (GCC+3) in Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (AFP)
Two sources divulged to Axios that director of the Mossad, David Barnea, secretly landed in Washington two weeks ago to discuss US President Joe Biden's efforts of normalization between the occupation and Saudi Arabia with CIA and White House officials.
Normalization is only a small part of the administration's efforts, as the Israeli government wants to weigh in on potential US-Saudi bilateral agreements that could affect the occupation's "security", such as US support for a Saudi civilian nuclear program with uranium enrichment and potential US arms sales to Riyadh.
Biden dispatched National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Saudi Arabia for talks on the normalization process with "Israel" with the Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
In a brief statement, the White House said Sullivan landed in Jeddah on Thursday "to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including initiatives to advance a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East."
Read more: MBS wants China to revive KSA nuclear project, to US discontent
The state-run Saudi Press Agency said the two sides "discussed the Saudi-US strategic relations and ways to enhance them in various fields, in addition to the latest regional and international developments of mutual concern."
The low-profile meeting, with no pictures taken, saw the attendance of high-ranking Saudi officials, including the defense and energy ministers and the head of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
According to a previous Axios report, the White House wants to fulfill these objectives within the next six to seven months before President Joe Biden is due to dedicate more time to the 2024 presidential runoff.
Amid heightened competition with Beijing, the US seeks to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, the report says, noting that the move is intended to secure and safeguard US geopolitical and economic interests.
US sources reported that Barnea met with Jake Sullivan ahead of his trip to Saudi, in addition to Brett McGurk, the White House Middle East czar, and Amos Hochstein, Biden’s senior advisor for energy and infrastructure, who both joined Sullivan on his trip to the Kingdom.
A source revealed that Barnea's meeting with CIA director Bill Burns also included talks on "Israel's" judicial reform and the instability that has befallen "Israel."
Read next: Israeli division deepens, protesters block road to Knesset
During a recent phone call, the US President asked the Israeli Prime Minister "not to rush" with the judicial reform legislation and build a broad consensus within "Israel".
Among topics discussed was also Iran, as the Kingdom and Tehran signed on March 10 a Chinese-brokered agreement to restore diplomatic ties after several years of rift, with Tehran reopening its embassy in Riyadh in early June.
A White House National Security Council spokesperson refused to comment about the meeting, citing that the US "continues to support for normalization with "Israel", including with Saudi Arabia, and obviously continue to talk to our regional partners about how more progress can be made."
"It’s one effort we are pursuing toward advancing US foreign policy goals for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East region."
