Two 'once pariah, not anymore' Saudi delegations to visit US
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It seems Washington's classification of the Kingdom as a "pariah" state has gone in the wind, in pursuit of oil.
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Are the US-Saudi ties really improving?
Two Saudi government delegations will visit the United States this month, officials said on Saturday, as Riyadh and Washington work to repair strained ties and pave the groundwork for US President Joe Biden's eventual visit, despite the White House Spokesperson confirming only two days ago that the previous statements made by US President Joe Biden against Saudi Arabia, which he described as a "pariah", still stand.
On the same day, US President Joe Biden, who has long been championing punishing Saudi Arabia over the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Riyadh's grave human rights violations, was said to be packing his suitcase and boarding the Air Force One to Riyadh later this month. It seems, after all, that the Kingdom's "pariah" status will have to wait because the US needs oil and energy.
In a bid to make amends with the Gulf state rich in oil, which Biden's country desperately needs, as the US grapples with an energy crisis domestically and attempts to isolate Russia abroad, the first Saudi team, led by Saudi Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, is scheduled to arrive in Washington on June 15. The second, led by Investment Minister Khaled Al-Falih, is scheduled toward the end of the month, according to two officials. The officials refused to be identified since the plans had not been made public.
According to reports, the delegations will comprise dozens of government officials and Saudi industry leaders who will discuss agreements and partnerships in a variety of industries, including transportation, logistics, and renewable energy. The Saudi authorities did not react quickly to a request for comment.
Biden publicly admitted on Friday that he may travel to Saudi Arabia shortly, in a trip that is expected and might include conversations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to various sources.
Ties with a "pariah" state?
The visit aims to repair relations with Saudi Arabia, which have been strained as a result of rising energy prices, the war on Yemen, and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
However, two days ago, following a press briefing, White House Spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre's responded to a question about previous statements made by US President Joe Biden against Saudi Arabia, which he described as a "pariah", saying the remarks still stand.
Jean-Pierre was asked how after US intelligence assessed that Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) was behind the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi a visit to Saudi Arabia would be consistent with Biden's remarks last year that Saudi Arabia would "pay the price, and make them, in fact, the pariah that they are."
Moreover, Biden's remark came on the heels of a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Allies, known as OPEC+, to increase oil output on Thursday, as well as an agreement in Yemen to extend the UN-brokered truce.
The US position is also shifting, as it is concerned about the Gulf states' growing connections with China and Russia.
"Regardless if Biden's visit takes place or not, both sides are working to restore ties on an institutional level and in different sectors," said one of the officials.
