US 'long way' from fulfilling Riyadh security, nuclear demands: Biden

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
9 Jul 2023 21:01
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Saudi Arabia is requesting that the US provides it with a defense treaty and civilian nuclear capacity.

US President Joe Biden speaks at Flex LTD, July 6, 2023, in West Columbia, South Carolina (AP)

During an exclusive interview for CNN on Sunday, US President Joe Biden said the US is a long way from providing Riyadh with its longstanding security demands, which include both a defense treaty and civilian nuclear capacity.

"We’re a long way from there," he said. "Whether or not we would provide a means by which they can have civilian nuclear power, and/or be a guarantor of their security – I think that’s a little way off," Biden said.

On Ukraine's NATO bid

When asked about Ukraine, Biden said that the country's bid for NATO membership may only be considered once the conflict in Ukraine is over.

Meanwhile, the US and its allies will continue to supply Kiev with all the weaponry and security they need in order to end the conflict with Russia.

Biden's interview comes ahead of a weeklong trip to Europe where he will attend a NATO summit in Lithuania.

"I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war," Biden said.

"For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case."

Biden said he told Zelensky that the US would continue to support Ukraine the same way it does with "Israel".

"I think we have to lay out a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify to be able to get into NATO," Biden said, adding that he refused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request prior to the start of the conflict for a commitment not to admit Ukraine.

"But I think it’s premature to say, to call for a vote, you know, in now, because there’s other qualifications that need to be met, including democratization and some of those issues," Biden said.

On Friday, Washington said it plans to send Ukraine cluster munitions for the first time as part of efforts to bolster Ukraine's ammunition.

Biden told host Fareed Zakaria that it was a "difficult decision" to give Ukraine the ammunition but deems it necessary because Kiev's forces were running out of ammunition.

Sweden's bid for NATO membership

As Sweden is facing continuous resistance from Hungary and Turkey to getting admitted into the NATO alliance, Biden told Zakaria that he was optimistic that the Nordic country would eventually be admitted to the alliance.

The key holdout, however, would involve buying Turkey's approval through the modernization of its F-16 fleet.

"Turkey is looking for modernization of F-16 aircraft. And (Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos) Mitsotakis in Greece is also looking for some help," Biden said. "And so, what I’m trying to, quite frankly, put together is a little bit of a consortium here, where we’re strengthening NATO in terms of military capacity of both Greece as well as Turkey, and allow Sweden to come in. But it’s in play. It’s not done."

Restoring ties with China

In other parts of the interview, Biden discussed matters pertaining to US-China relations, noting that he is optimistic the US could have a working relationship with China.

"I think there is a way to resolve, to establish a working relationship with China that benefits them and us," Biden said. "And the last thing I’ll tell you, I also called him after he had that meeting with the Russians about this new relationship, etc. And I said, ‘This is not a threat. It’s an observation.’ I said, ‘Since Russia went into Ukraine, 600 American corporations have pulled out of Russia. And you’ve told me that your economy depends on investment from Europe and the United States. And be careful. Be careful.’"

"He talks about nuclear war being a disaster, there is such a thing as security that’s needed," Biden said of Xi. "So, I think there’s a way we can work through this."

An invite for N etanyahu?

When Zakaria asked Biden if the White House would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit, he said that President Isaac Herzog is already planning to come soon.

Biden told Zakaria that he is still convinced a "two-state solution" is what would set forth a peace settlement between "Israel" and Palestine.

He said that some of Netanyahu’s cabinet members are too extremist with regard to their approach to illegal settlements in the West Bank, as reported by Reuters and several Israeli media.

"It’s not all 'Israel' now in the West Bank, all 'Israel’s' problem, but they are a part of the problem, and particularly those individuals in the cabinet who say, ‘We can settle anywhere we want. They have no right to be here, etc.,’" Biden said. "And I think we were talking with them regularly, trying to tamp down what’s going on and hopefully, Bibi will continue to move toward moderation and change."