WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, who is preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia amid criticism of its poor human rights record, defended his decision in a newspaper op-ed, insisting he has long supported reforms and sought to “ to reorient, but not to sever’ relations with a long-standing strategic partner.
In the op-ed published online Saturday night by The Washington Post, Biden pointed to events in the Middle East that he said have made the region more stable and secure than when the Trump administration ended, including intense diplomacy as well as military action against state sponsored attacks. But his framing of the Saudi relationship in particular appeared defensive, particularly with some in the US insisting he did not lend legitimacy to the government with a visit.
Biden linked U.S. strength and security to countering Russian aggression and competition from China, then argued that direct engagement with countries like Saudi Arabia could help advance those efforts. The president said he aims to strengthen the US-Saudi partnership “which is based on mutual interests and responsibilities while adhering to core American values.”
“I know there are many people 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, just as they will be in Israel and the West Bank.”
Notably, Biden’s article appeared in the Post’s Sunday Opinion section, whose writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents in 2018.
For that matter, Biden said he responded with sanctions against the Saudi forces involved in the assassination and issued dozens of visa bans for anyone found to be harassing dissidents abroad. The president also noted that he released a U.S. intelligence report alleging that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation that killed Khashoggi.
Biden is expected to meet with the crown prince during his trip.
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