Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hit back at President Joe Biden when he addressed the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during the two leaders’ highly controversial meeting. One source said that – when confronted with the order for the death of Saudi dissident and Washington Post journalist Khashoggi – the MSB cited two incidents that it said reflected poorly on the US: US military abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and death of a Palestinian. -American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Biden told reporters he pressed MBS on the “outrageous” killing of Khashoggi during a wide-ranging meeting between top US and Saudi officials. “I made my point clear … for an American president to be silent on a human rights issue is inconsistent with who we are and who I am,” he said. This came after Biden came under fire for punching the man believed to have ordered Khashoggi’s death. The president’s Middle East trip also continued Saturday with a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Kadhimi in Jeddah, where they discussed the two nations’ bilateral partnership and their determination to ensure that ISIS can never rekindle.
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Biden meets King Abdullah of Jordan
President Joe Biden met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Jeddah on Saturday, where the two leaders discussed efforts to promote partnership between the two nations and work together to “address regional and international challenges.” After the meeting, the White House released a statement revealing that Mr. Biden had announced plans to enter into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Jordan. “President Biden announced the United States’ intention to enter into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on assistance to Jordan, in which the United States plans to commit to support the provision of at least $1.45 billion annually in U.S. bilateral foreign aid to Jordan, starting in 2023 and ending in 2029,” the statement said. “One of the most significant bilateral instruments of its kind, the MOU represents a significant US political commitment to Jordan’s stability and the longevity of the partnership. “The Memorandum of Understanding is designed to address Jordan’s emergency needs, support King Abdullah II’s economic reform program, and ensure the long-term strength of the close partnership between the United States and Jordan.” Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 3:50 pm 1657981827
Biden invites UAE president to visit US
President Joe Biden has formally invited the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to visit the US by the end of 2022. “The challenges you face today make it that much more important that we spend time together,” Biden told his UAE counterpart. “I want to formally invite you to the United States.” The two leaders met on Saturday as part of Mr Biden’s final day in Saudi Arabia. The UAE president took office in May. Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 3:30 p.m 1657980627
Biden vows US ‘will not leave Middle East’
President Joe Biden vowed that the US “will not walk away” from the Middle East as he celebrated the withdrawal of US troops from the region. Speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council on Saturday, Mr Biden insisted the US was not leaving behind a “vacuum” that could be filled by the likes of China, Russia or Iran. “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran,” he said. “We will seek to seize this moment with active, principled, American leadership.” Mr. Biden said much had changed since he last visited the Middle East, when he was vice president in the Obama administration. “Around the world, we are seeing efforts to undermine the rules-based order: with China’s increasingly coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. with Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war against its neighbor Ukraine; and with Iran’s destabilizing activities. Here in the Middle East, we have also seen critical changes,” he said. “For the first time since 9/11, an American President is visiting this region without American troops engaged in combat — in a combat mission in the region… today, I’m proud to say that the era of ground wars in the region – wars involving huge numbers of US forces – is not underway.” US forces continue to target terrorists in the region with the US military killing Islamic State leader in Syria Maher al-Agal in a drone strike earlier this week. “We maintain both the ability and the absolute determination to suppress the terrorist threat wherever we find it,” Biden said. “We will continue our efforts to fight terrorism by working with a broad coalition of countries, including everyone around this table. And we will focus our attention and resources on supporting our partners, strengthening our alliances and building coalitions to solve the problems facing this region and the world — and the world today.” Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 3:10 p.m 1657979427
Biden, Iraqi leader pledge to ensure ISIS can never rekindle
President Joe Biden and Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Qadimi have vowed that the two countries will work together to ensure that ISIS can never rekindle. The two leaders met on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in a bilateral meeting during the United States-Egypt-Iraq-Jordan Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. The White House issued a statement after the meeting, saying “the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the strong bilateral partnership between Iraq and the United States under the Strategic Framework Agreement and their determination to continue security coordination to ensure that ISIS can never rekindle. “. The two leaders also held consultations on a range of regional issues and agreed “that the relationship between the US and Iraq is based on a shared interest in the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability of Iraq and pledged to strengthen bilateral corporate relationship for the benefit of their two nations”. “They also reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government responsive to the will of the Iraqi people and their respect for Iraq’s democracy and independence,” the White House said. “President Biden underscored the importance the United States places on a stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Iraq, to include the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.” Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 2:50 p.m 1657978227
How Biden is spending his last day in Saudi Arabia
President Joe Biden is spending the final day of his controversial trip to Saudi Arabia meeting with the leaders of Iraq, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The President first met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Qatimi, Egyptian President El Sisi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan before attending the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting. Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 2:30 p.m 1657977026
Russian officials visited Iran to examine drones, White House says
Russian officials have visited Iran on at least two separate occasions to review drones they are considering using in the war against Ukraine, according to the White House. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that US intelligence indicated that a Russian delegation visited a Kashan airport in central Iran on June 8 and July 5. During the visit, the Iranian military showed them the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones. CNN first reported the incidents along with a satellite image of the UAVs in flight at the airport, while a Russian delegation transport plane was at the scene. Mr Sullivan said the visits indicated “continued Russian interest” in procuring “attack-capable” UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles. “We have information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs,” Mr. Sullivan said. “We assess that an official Russian delegation recently received a showcase of Iranian attack-capable UAVs. “We are publishing these images taken in June showing Iranian UAVs seen by the Russian government delegation that day. This indicates continued Russian interest in acquiring Iranian attack-capable UAVs.” He added: “As far as we know, this is the first time a Russian delegation has visited this airport for such a showcase.” Rachel Sharp July 16, 2022 2:10 p.m 1657975891
MSB fired back at Biden when he raised the issue of Khashoggi’s murder
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fired back at President Joe Biden when he was confronted about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a report. A source familiar with the controversial meeting between the two leaders told CNN that the MSB responded by reporting the US military’s abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The source said the MSB told Biden that the two incidents reflect badly on the US. Back in 2004, graphic photos emerged from Abu Ghraib prison showing US military personnel torturing and sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners captured and held there at the start of the US invasion of the country. The photos eventually led to the conviction of 11 US soldiers. Meanwhile, Abu Akleh was shot and killed in May while covering an Israeli military operation in the West Bank. The US has come under fire for its response to her death, with the journalist’s family and Palestinian officials calling on officials to hold Israel accountable. On Friday, Mr Biden visited the West Bank with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, where he insisted the US was committed to a “full and transparent accounting” of her killing. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince raised the two incidents after the US president told him he believed he was responsible for ordering…
