Secretary of State Antony Blinken Seeks to Mend Ties During Saudi Arabia Visit Amid Strained Relations and Prospects of Israel Normalization
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a crucial visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, aiming to restore stability in the strained relationship between the two countries. The visit comes as the United States seeks to address deepening disagreements on key issues, including Iran, regional security, and oil prices.
During his stay in Riyadh, Blinken engaged in a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de-facto ruler of the kingdom. Discussions revolved around the expansion of economic cooperation, particularly in clean energy and technology sectors, as detailed in a readout from the State Department.The Secretary of State’s visit included scheduled meetings with other high-ranking Saudi officials, both in the capital city and the coastal town of Jeddah. This marks the second recent high-level visit from Washington to Saudi Arabia, following White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip on May 7.
The timing of Blinken’s visit coincides with Saudi Arabia’s recent commitment to further reduce oil production, a move that could add strain to an already troubled U.S.-Saudi relationship. Concerns have mounted due to the kingdom’s human rights record and disputes regarding American policies on Iran. Among the objectives of Blinken’s trip is the restoration of U.S. influence in managing oil prices, countering increasing Chinese and Russian influence in the region, and fostering hopes for a potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. During his address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a prominent pro-Israel lobby group, Blinken emphasized that advocating for diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia aligns with U.S. national security interests. However, he also cautioned that such normalization will not occur swiftly.
Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington-based think-tank, highlighted discouraging a closer Saudi-Chinese relationship as a crucial aspect of Blinken’s visit. Goldberg stressed the importance of explaining to Saudi Arabia why aligning closely with China might hinder their relationship with Washington and why it is not in their strategic interests. Secretary Blinken’s visit to Saudi Arabia holds significant implications for the future of the U.S.-Saudi relationship, the stability of the region, and the prospects of regional partnerships. Both parties are keen on addressing their differences and finding common ground to strengthen their ties moving forward.
