US President Joe Biden received a cold welcome in the Saudi media
US President Joe Biden received a cold welcome in the Saudi media, reflecting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s concerns about the new administration.
Bin Salman fears Biden will take action against human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, especially those associated with the crown prince.
Saudi Arabia did not congratulate Biden on his official inauguration and entry into the White House.
Heartbreak over the Trump era
The official Saudi media still deplore former US President Donald Trump for providing immunity to Bin Salman from calls to question him and hold him accountable for his crimes.
Under the headline, “Bye Trump, Welcome Biden,” Saudi journalist Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed asked in an article in Asharq Al-Awsat whether the new president’s policies would be an extension of the policies of Barack Obama, whose relationship with Gulf leaders was tepid.
During his two terms, Biden was Obama’s deputy, which witnessed rapprochement with Iran and the signing of a historic nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew.
Al-Rashed wrote, “Indeed, many of the faces whose candidacy was announced worked within Obama’s cadres, but their presence does not mean that it will be an exact policy.”
“Obama failed during his presidency in marketing his policy, specifically imposing dealing with Iran on the Arab Gulf states and Israel,” he said. Then Trump came and blockaded Iran’s arms, destroying its financial and economic capabilities. Thus, returning to the same point.
President Joe Biden is expected to adopt a more conventional US strategy and seek to draw Iran to the negotiating table.
Trump’s relations with the Gulf states contrasted with the lukewarm relationship that linked these countries to Obama, whose conclusion of Iran’s agreement over its nuclear file raised the concerns of Saudi Arabia and its neighbours.
“Okaz” asked Saudi Arabia in the article “The New Democrats … Embracing the Allies … Or Returning to the Enemies.”
Badin showed severe signs of his intention to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its violations before his election to the United States’ presidency.
The Biden administration also announced its intention to disclose the security report on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which poses a significant challenge to Bin Salman.
