Analysis Biden Middle East ‘Could do better’: the experts’ verdict on Biden in Middle East Did the US president achieve his objectives on his tour of the Middle East? AGBI asked seven analysts to give Biden marks out of 10 President Joe Biden hoped to usher in a new era in Washington’s relationship with the Middle East during his whistlestop tour last week – seeking to reinforce America’s commitment to […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden boosts relations but fails to move the dial The president hoped to reset Washington’s relationship with the Middle East last weekend. In this in-depth analysis, AGBI explores how he performed on Israel, Iran, human rights and oil President Joe Biden’s whirlwind tour of the Middle East sought to reinforce America’s commitment to the region after several years of disengagement. In a speech to […] July 19, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Against the odds, Biden achieved a low key US-Gulf reset The US president did enough to restore relations with Saudi Arabia to what they were a decade ago but what comes next is paramount July 18, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East The road from Jeddah: US and Saudi set out their 19 priorities Clean energy, investment deals and space exploration are at the heart of the Jeddah communiqué – the partnership agreement issued by the US and Saudi governments after President Joe Biden’s meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among the agreements reached during the president’s visit on July 15 and 16 was a […] July 18, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden tells Arab leaders that US is committed to region President Joe Biden told an Arab summit today that the United States would remain firmly committed to its allies in the Middle East and was “not going anywhere” as he lobbied for a regional security alliance that would integrate Israel. Biden, who began his first trip to the Middle East as president with a visit to Israel, […] July 16, 2022
OpiniongeopoliticsMany may still ask, was this all worth it? Above all, the enduring theme was of American weaknessChris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding
Opinionfood securityBiden missed the chance to provide a clear plan to avoid the impending food and energy crisis David H Rundell & Michael Gfoeller
OpiniongeopoliticsBiden’s visit launched Lapid’s four-month term in office and adds to his credibilityAmnon Aran, professor of International Politics at City, University of London
Biden Middle East Biden confronts MbS over Khashoggi before talking oil US president Joe Biden said he told Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman he held him responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, shortly after exchanging a fist bump with the kingdom’s de facto ruler. On a trip to reset relations with a country he had called a pariah after Khashoggi’s killing in […] July 16, 2022
Energy Biden starts sensitive Saudi visit, no immediate oil pledge expected President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday to discuss energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation on a trip designed to reset the US relationship with a country he once pledged to make a “pariah” on the world stage. Energy and security interests prompted the president and his aides to decide not to […] July 15, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Biden’s first win: Saudi Arabia opens airspace to Israel Saudi Arabia has announced it will open its airspace to all air carriers, including Israeli flights – marking a stepchange for the kingdom which has a historical stance of not officially recognising Israel. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a statement on Thursday saying that the country’s airspace was now open to all […] July 15, 2022 In association with
Biden Middle East What the papers say: Day two of Biden’s Middle East trip A round up of the opinion and views published by regional and international media on US president Biden’s trip to the Middle East. LOCAL PAPERS: Saudi Arabia’s Arab News: Saudi Arabia, US have chance to reenergise their relationship Arab News ran an opinion piece authored by Dr Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, the GCC assistant secretary-general for […] July 15, 2022
Tourism Saudi Arabia to open airspace to all airlines, including from Israel Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel, in a decision welcomed by US President Joe Biden who is due to visit the kingdom on Friday. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the country’s airspace was now open […] July 15, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden defends Saudi trip and will not avoid human rights talk US president Joe Biden said on Thursday he would not avoid talking about human rights when he visits Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his Middle East trip and stressed his position on the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi was “absolutely” clear. Biden heads to the kingdom on Friday where he will seek to boost […] July 15, 2022
Economy Biden brings Palestinians aid but no new peace plan US President Joe Biden will not come with a plan to restart the stalled Israel-Palestinian peace process when he visits the West Bank on Friday, at the end of the first leg of his Middle East trip, a senior administration official said. Biden will restate his backing for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict […] July 15, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden heads to Saudi Arabia amid tension over oil President Joe Biden will discuss energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation in Saudi Arabia on Friday on a trip designed to reset the US relationship with a country he once pledged to make a “pariah” on the world stage. Biden will hold meetings with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed […] July 15, 2022
Analysis Development I2U2: America’s answer to curbing China and upping food security Israel, India, the US and the United Arab Emirates came together on Thursday for an historic meeting as the “I2U2” collective. The futuristic name refers to the first letters of the four countries. US president Joe Biden and Israel’s prime minister, Yair Lapid, lent the initiative a maiden boost, joining a four-way call in Jerusalem […] July 14, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden’s ‘Jerusalem Declaration’ could slash UAE-Iran trade The US and Israel pledged today to deny Iran nuclear weapons – a move that could dissuade global trade partners from dealing with Tehran, experts have said. The freshly united stance from US president Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid represents a rare show of unity by allies long divided over Iran diplomacy. The […] July 14, 2022
Biden Middle East What the papers said: Day one of Biden’s Middle East trip A round up of some of the opinion and views published by regional and international media on US President Biden’s trip to the Middle East. LOCAL PAPERS: Abu Dhabi’s The National: Joe Biden’s trip to Jerusalem met with ambivalence and optimism The National noted that while there is cautious optimism that Biden will help to […] July 14, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden savours ‘homecoming’ to Israel as Saudi leg looms Israel embraced US president Joe Biden as an old friend on Wednesday at the start of a high-stakes visit dominated by efforts to bring Israel closer to Saudi Arabia and persuade Washington’s Gulf allies to pump more oil. Landing at Ben Gurion Airport, whose runway he first trod in 1973 as a senator, Biden bumped […] July 14, 2022
Biden Middle East US and Israel sign pledge to deny Iran nuclear weapons US president Joe Biden and Israel’s prime minister Yair Lapid today signed a joint pledge to deny Iran nuclear weapons, closing ranks on Tehran. A senior Biden administration official said the agreement will expand on the long-standing security relationship between the United States and Israel. “This declaration is pretty significant, and it includes a commitment […] July 14, 2022
Economy Iran says it and Saudi Arabia interested in more talks Iran and Saudi Arabia are interested in holding more talks, Tehran’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, three months after a fifth round of contacts aimed at restoring relations between the Middle East’s two main rival powers. Tehran gave an update on the status of the talks as US President Joe Biden landed in Israel in […] July 14, 2022
Energy Biden en route to Israel for high-stakes Middle East visit US President Joe Biden arrives in Israel on Wednesday to kick off a high-stakes trip to the Middle East dominated by efforts to persuade Gulf allies to pump more oil and bring Israel and Saudi Arabia closer together. Biden will spend two days in Jerusalem for talks with Israeli leaders before meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud […] July 13, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East The Biden-Saudi dilemma: To arm or not to arm? The Biden administration is reportedly discussing lifting its ban on US sales of arms to Saudi Arabia, but whether the decision is actioned remains to be seen. The internal US deliberations are informal and “at an early stage”, with no decision imminent, four sources told Reuters. But as US president Joe Biden prepares for a […] July 12, 2022
Biden Middle East US weighs resumption of offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia The Biden administration is discussing the possible lifting of its ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. But any final decision is expected to hinge on whether Riyadh makes progress towards ending the war in neighboring Yemen, according to four people familiar with the matter. Senior Saudi officials pressed their US counterparts […] July 12, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East US firms invest billions as Saudi appeal grows American businessmen first travelled to Saudi Arabia back in the 1930s to help develop the kingdom’s natural resources. Fast forward 90 years and, with record foreign investment licences issued in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2022 and the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growing at its fastest rate in a decade, it’s little […] July 8, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East It’s the bankers who most want Biden and MbS to make nice Saudi Arabia want better relations with the US, Biden wants cheaper oil – but Wall Street can smell the money July 8, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East A picture could paint a thousand words when Biden meets MbS There are many issues to discuss but a simple photograph may reveal all we need to know about US-Saudi relations July 8, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Biden’s focus in Saudi should be on the long-term Mid-term election success will tempt the American president to go for quick wins, but he must enter into talks with an eye on the global demand for energy July 8, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East US-Saudi trade relationship in rude health The US-Saudi trade relationship rebounded from the pandemic lows of 2020 to posting record high exchanges of non-oil and non-defence goods last year as vehicles and vaccines boosted American imports into the kingdom. According to data from the US-Saudi Business Council, total trade volume amounted to SR92.5 billion ($24.7 billion) during 2021, rising 22 percent […] July 8, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden’s Saudi visit is a test of pragmatism over populism Ever since the White House announced in June that US President Joe Biden would be embarking on a trip to the Middle East – the first of his presidency – the possible motives behind it have been the subject of keen debate. Slated to take place from July 13-16 the trip has also been the […] July 8, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Security is what MbS wants most of all from Washington As the architect of Saudi Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman quickly won plaudits the world over as a great moderniser and the face of reform in the kingdom. But the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 complicated matters. Shunned by many leaders – both political and business – MbS has […] July 8, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East 43 billion reasons why the US is key to Saudi’s wealth fund Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is expected to continue with an investment strategy of “bargain hunting” in the United States but will likely deploy some caution, given current volatility in the US stock market. US president Joe Biden’s visit to the kingdom is an opportunity to strengthen bilateral business ties, commentators told AGBI, and […] July 8, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Partner or pariah? Biden must make his mind up on Saudi Murder and the Yemen war versus rising prices at the pump – the US president will have to use all his powers of diplomacy to get what he wants July 8, 2022
Exclusive Biden Middle East Diriyah’s CEO: the American at the heart of Saudi’s transformation There has never been a better time for US companies to invest in Saudi Arabia, according to the American businessman in charge of one of the kingdom’s biggest giga-projects. As group CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), Jerry Inzerillo has been at the helm of shaping the $50.6 billion transformation of the 14km2 district […] July 8, 2022
Energy Biden won’t push Saudi crown prince on oil U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he would see Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince during a visit to the country next month but that the purpose of his trip was not to press them to increase oil output. Asked at a press conference in Spain if he would ask the Saudi leaders to […] July 1, 2022
Energy Biden should not shake MBS’ hand in Riyadh, says top Democrat President Joe Biden should not visit Saudi Arabia or meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the chairman of the US House intelligence committee said on Sunday. Rep. Adam Schiff was asked about reports that the president will travel to Riyadh in July and hold talks with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler – […] June 6, 2022
Energy White House praises Saudi crown prince ahead of expected Biden trip The White House took the rare step of recognising the role played by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in extending a ceasefire in Yemen on Thursday ahead of what is expected to be a trip to Riyadh by President Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that bin Salman and […] June 3, 2022
Biden planning Gulf visit this month US officials are planning a trip for President Joe Biden to the Middle East later this month to meet Gulf allies, which could put him in the same room with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sources said on Wednesday. No final decisions have been made about the trip, according to sources inside and outside […] June 2, 2022
Energy Biden in talks to meet Saudi Crown Prince for first time US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could meet for the first time as soon as next month, CNN reported on Thursday, citing multiple sources. Biden administration officials are in talks with the Saudis about arranging a potential in-person meeting while Biden is overseas next month, the report added. The […] May 20, 2022
