Joe Biden to visit Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Salman

Joe Biden to visit Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Salman
June 14, 2022, 6:45 pm

Saudi Arabia and the United States flags. (Stock photo)

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court announced on Tuesday (June 14), Joe Biden will make his first trip as US president to the Kingdom from July 15-16 at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The president is scheduled to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The White House announced, Biden’s trip to the Middle East from July 13-16 will also include stops in Israel and the West Bank.

According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the president’s visit will reinforce Washington’s “iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity and attend a Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council." The GCC summit will also include Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan.

While in the region, the US president will meet with more than a dozen regional leaders to advance US security, economic, and diplomatic interests.

His first stop will be in Israel before visiting the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Biden to focus on more than discussing energy in his visit to Saudi Arabia

Following his stops in Israel and the West Bank, the president will take a rare direct flight from Israel to Jeddah.

Jean-Pierre said: “The President appreciates King Salman’s leadership and his invitation. He looks forward to this important visit to Saudi Arabia, which has been a strategic partner of the United States for nearly eight decades."

The US president will take the chance to meet with Saudi officials to discuss the war in Yemen while also looking at ways to expand “regional economic and security cooperation.”

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It should be noted that Biden and his administration repeatedly said they wanted to “recalibrate” ties with Saudi Arabia and made several foreign policy moves targeting Riyadh. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and soaring energy prices being felt by Americans, Biden sought Riyadh’s help.

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