President Biden wraps up his first Middle East trip with warnings on Russia, Iran, but no apologies for meeting with autocrats.
. “Let me say clearly that the United States is going to remain an active, engaged partner in the Middle East. ... We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran [and] will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership.”
Biden used the trip to highlight the gradual opening of ties between Israel and some Arab nations that until recently had not officially recognized the countryWashington is attempting to build an integrated air defense system that includes Israel and several of the Arab nations as a bulwark against Iran.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden sharply chastised Saudi leadership and said he hoped to make the country a “pariah” over the slaying of Khashoggi and other human rights abuses. Upon taking office, Biden toned down that criticism. Caught between his rhetoric and the need to reduce oil prices, Biden sought to ease tensions with Saudi Arabia by meeting Mohammed, framing it as part of a broader conference with Arab leaders and as an effort to improve security in the region.
Biden said on Friday that Mohammed told him he was not personally responsible for Khashoggi’s slaying. The president claimed he told Mohammed that he thought the prince was.
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