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President Joe Biden closed his visit to the Middle East with a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Biden met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday, who he said he raised with him about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“I said it very bluntly, for an American president to be silent on a human rights issue is inconsistent with who we are and who I am,” President Biden said. “I will always defend our values.”
America believes the crown prince may have ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi four years ago. His assassination has cast a shadow over Mr Biden’s efforts to restore relations with Saudi Arabia.
Biden also announced that US peacekeepers would leave the Red Sea island of Tiran by the end of the year, part of an agreement reached during what he called “a good series of meetings” in Jeddah.
It was a crucial meeting that was seen as an opportunity to mend one of the world’s most important diplomatic relations, compounded by concerns over rising gas prices and Iranian aggression in the Middle East. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is trying to strengthen its security relationship with the United States and is trying to secure investment to transform its economy to be less dependent on oil. The Saudis had hosted a low-key reception for President Biden at the airport in Jeddah, without any of the ceremony that accompanied his visit this week to Israel.
In the latter, the president seemed a little confused, after finishing his speech at the press conference with the Israeli counterpart turning to the side and pointing his hand to meet someone, even though there was no one behind him.
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