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President Joe Biden will visit the Middle East next week, a region experiencing rapid geopolitical change.
One of the stops will be Israel, and the country’s prime minister, Yair Lapid, said Sunday that expanding cooperation to counter Iran will be a major topic during the visit. Iran is expected to be a central topic in Riyadh as well, as the rivalry between Saudi Arabia, led by Sunni Muslims, and Iran, led by Shiites, have long created a complex relationship. But now the two countries are trying to reintegrate in the international arena.
Joe Biden’s first visit to the Middle East as President of the United States comes at a crucial time for both Saudi Arabia and Iran in relation to their role on the world stage.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has just embarked on a tour of visits to Egypt, Turkey and Jordan, in an effort by the kingdom to rehabilitate its international relations.
“Saudi Arabia had been shunned by the international community, partly because of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, or the ongoing war in Yemen, which is bringing devastating humanitarian consequences. What the Saudis are trying to do now is reintegrate themselves into the international arena”, says Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University.
President Biden’s expected visit to Riyadh is a signal of openness from Washington.
“Much of this attitude depends on what is happening in Ukraine, oil and gas and the large increase in their prices. Saudi Arabia, as a major producer, is able to exert a large influence on global markets“, says Mr. Mabon.
Iran is also trying to re-enter the international stage as it negotiates a return to the 2015 nuclear deal in exchange for the lifting of sanctions by the United States.
“The Iranian state is in dire need of money“, adds Mr. Mabon.
But nuclear talks have stalled, despite warnings that Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program is advancing rapidly.
“Iran’s (nuclear) program is progressing in ways that are deeply troubling to us“, says Ned Price, spokesman for the US State Department.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting in Yemen through forces they support since 2014. The two countries cut ties in 2016. Meanwhile, a cease-fire reached in March between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the government-backed from Saudi Arabia, is still in effect.
In April, Tehran and Riyadh held a fifth round of talks in Baghdad aimed at thawing relations between them and have planned further talks.
Before visiting Riyadh, President Biden will first stop in Israel and the Palestinian territories, where expectations are low.
“Are basic Palestinian issues a priority of the Biden administration?! The answer is no! So I think nothing new will come from this visit”, says Ali Jarbawi, Professor of Political Science at Birzeit University in the West Bank.
On the other hand, Israel itself is seeking to establish new relations with its Arab neighbors in the region.
“The Saudis and Israelis are working together, partly inspired by a common concern related to Iran“, says Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University.
Meanwhile, activist groups have asked President Biden to address concerns regarding respect for human rights during his visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Washington says that these issues are at the center of American foreign policy./VOA
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