JEDDAH
President Joe Biden advocated for a regional security alliance that would include Israel at an Arab Summit on Saturday, saying that the United States would remain firmly committed to its allies in the Middle East and was “not going anywhere.”
Biden presented his vision and strategy for America’s engagement in the Middle East, which was the first stop on his first trip to the region as president after a stop in Israel.
He also aimed to include Israel in a new axis that was largely motivated by shared worries about Iran during the meeting in Jeddah.
“Since Israel needs to have strong air and missile defense capabilities, we think it is very valuable to include as many of the regional capabilities as we can. However, we are having bilateral discussions with these countries “Reporters were told by a senior administration official.
Joe Biden
Biden has downplayed a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in favor of concentrating on the upcoming summit with six Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. Because of violations of human rights, that encounter received criticism in the United States.
“Even the United States can’t get everything right all the time, let alone most of the time. But our greatest asset is our people. Our nations become stronger when they have the courage to learn from their mistakes “said Biden.
“So let me sum up everything I’ve said in one sentence. The United States is committed to working with all of you to create a bright future for the area, and it has no intention of leaving.”
In response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in 2018, Biden had threatened to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” on the international stage. However, he ultimately came to the conclusion that US interests required a recalibration, not a rupture, in relations with the top oil exporter.
The US president claimed that he had brought up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi with the Saudi crown prince on Friday and that remaining silent is “inconsistent with who we are and who I am.”
According to a Saudi official, the crown prince told Biden that while Saudi Arabia has taken steps to prevent mistakes like the murder of Khashoggi from happening again, the United States has also made mistakes, including in Iraq.
The official quoted the de facto ruler of the kingdom as saying that attempting to impose particular values through force on other nations could backfire in a statement sent to Reuters about the two leaders’ conversation on Friday.
At a time when crude prices are high, there are other issues relating to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Biden supports efforts to put an end to the Yemen war where a temporary truce is in effect, he needs the support of the largest member of OPEC, Saudi Arabia. Washington also wants to lessen China’s global influence and Iran’s hold on the region.
food safety
According to the Egyptian presidency, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Biden spoke about energy supply disruptions and food security during their meeting.
In the early months of the Biden administration, relations between Egypt and the United States were tense due to disagreements over human rights. However, Egypt’s efforts to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza in May 2021 prompted reengagement.
According to a second senior administration official, Biden would reveal that the US had pledged $1 billion in new short- and long-term food security assistance for the Middle East and North Africa and that the Gulf States would contribute $3 billion over the following two years to projects that would support US partnerships in international infrastructure and investment.
Gulf States
Gulf states, who have resisted siding with the West against Russia over Ukraine, are looking for a firm US commitment to ties that have gotten tense due to a perceived US withdrawal from the region.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are dissatisfied with US restrictions on arms sales and with their exclusion from indirect US-Iran negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, which they view as flawed because it does not address regional concerns about Tehran’s missile programme and behaviour.
Israel, which shares their concerns about Iran, supported Biden’s visit to the country in the hopes that it would promote rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel as part of a broader Arab reconciliation after the UAE and Bahrain established ties with Israel through US-brokered agreements that had Riyadh’s approval.
More overflights to and from Israel will be possible thanks to Saudi Arabia’s announcement on Friday that it will open its airspace to all airlines.
A plan to link air defence systems may be difficult to sell to Arab nations that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel and are wary of joining an alliance that is perceived as hostile to Iran, which has established a powerful network of proxies throughout the region, including in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.
