(LibertySons.org) – It’s no secret that the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has been rocky over the past few years. However, the Biden Administration has been working to stabilize the relationship with visits to the Middle Eastern country. Yet, when Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently took a trip to the nation amid the conflict in Israel, things didn’t exactly go according to plan.
Blinken was slated to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the evening of Saturday, October 14. Instead, the Saudi ruler didn’t show up until the following morning. Blinken’s task was to convince bin Salman to side with Israel and condemn the Hamas attack that occurred on October 7. That didn’t happen. Immediately upon meeting with Blinken, the crown prince said Israel needed to stop its counteroffensive, which “claimed the lives of innocent people.”
Bin Salman also said that Israel needs to end the Gaza siege and restore necessities to the millions of people who are currently trapped in the region. Then, in a request that contradicts US policy, the Saudi leader called for a stop to the escalation. Typically, Saudi Arabia is a strong voice in shaping Arab relations, and it has been working toward normalizing its dealings with Israel. However, it’s also a defender of Palestinians, which, in this case, is working against the US’ agenda.
Blinken has also visited Egypt, where he was instrumental in establishing an agreement to open the Rafah border crossing for American citizens looking to escape Gaza and the violence surrounding the region. Israel has no control over the crossing, but Egypt has been wary of opening it because of the Jewish State’s refusal to commit to not bombing vehicles that enter Gaza with the purpose of delivering necessities and aid.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also speaking out against Israel, saying it has deterred from “self-defense” to “collective punishment.”
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