April 23, 2024

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Joe Biden defends decision to visit Saudi Arabia: 'My job is to keep our country strong and safe'

Joe Biden defends decision to visit Saudi Arabia: ‘My job is to keep our country strong and safe’

Biden wrote, “As president, my job is to keep our country strong and secure. We must stand up to Russian aggression, put ourselves in the best position possible to beat China, and work for greater stability in a later part of the world.” Saturday in Editorial for the Washington Post.

“To do these things, we have to deal directly with countries that can affect those outcomes. Saudi Arabia is one of them, and when I meet with Saudi leaders on Friday, my goal will be to foster a strategic partnership moving forward based on mutual interests and responsibilities while upholding American values. the basic “.

The President’s visit Criticized given that US intelligence Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was held responsible for ordering the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. As a presidential candidate, Biden vowed to make the kingdom a “pariah.”

In his op-ed, Biden also said he would focus on a more integrated and stable Middle East, describing the region as “essential to global trade and the supply chains on which we depend” while also noting how critical the Middle East’s energy supplies are. Sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

“And a region that unites through diplomacy and cooperation — rather than disintegrates through conflict — is unlikely to lead to violent extremism that threatens our homeland or new wars that could place new burdens on U.S. military forces and their families,” Biden said.

Biden implicitly criticized his predecessor President Donald Trumpfor his abandonment of the Iran nuclear deal and said his administration “will continue to increase diplomatic and economic pressure until Iran is ready to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, and I remain prepared to do so.”

The president is also scheduled to travel to Israel during the visit. He promoted US security assistance to the country in his article, while also noting that “working with Congress, my administration has returned nearly $500 million in support of the Palestinians.”

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Biden is scheduled to travel to the region on Wednesday.