In the op-ed published online Saturday night by the Washington Post, Biden pointed to developments in the Middle East that he argued have made the region more stable and secure than when the Trump administration ended, including intense diplomacy as and military action against the state. sponsored attacks. But the framing of the relationship with Saudi Arabia in particular appeared defensive, especially with some in the US demanding that he not lend legitimacy to the government with a visit. Biden tied U.S. strength and security to countering Russian aggression and competition from China, then argued that working directly with countries like Saudi Arabia could help advance those efforts. The president said he aims to strengthen a US-Saudi partnership “moving forward based on mutual interests and responsibilities while being true to fundamental American values.” “I know there are many who disagree with my decision to travel to Saudi Arabia,” Biden wrote. “My views on human rights are clear and long-standing and fundamental freedoms are always on the agenda when I travel abroad, as they will be on this trip, as they will be in Israel and the West Bank.” It was notable that Biden’s op-ed appeared in the Post’s Sunday opinion section, whose author Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated by Saudi agents in 2018. In that regard, Biden argued that he had responded with sanctions against Saudi forces involved in the killing and issued dozens of visa bans for anyone found to be harassing dissidents abroad. The president also noted that he released a US intelligence report that claimed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s murder. Biden is expected to meet with the crown prince during his trip.
