On Thursday, it was reported by the White House that US President Joe Biden talked with Saudi King Salman before the release of an intelligence report which is expected to reveal the involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting was expected, particularly after the US President’s statements that he will release the report.
Although the statement did not explicitly express that the two leaders discussed the report’s expected release, it highlighted that the United States gives importance to universal human rights and the rule of law. Based on the statement, Biden and Salman discussed issues related to regional security, with special focus on the revived diplomatic attempts led by the UN and the US to put an end to the war in Yemen, and the US consistency regarding helping Saudi Arabia for protecting its territory as the attacks from Iranian-affiliated groups accelerated.
The White House also stated that President Biden told King Salman that he would make efforts to make the relationship between the two countries much stronger and more transparent.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence report about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is expected to approve that King Salman’s son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the killing. Saudi officials have acutely denied this accusation.
