Biden says US would use force as ‘last resort’ to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons
Joe Biden is on the defensive as his Middle East trip continues in Saudi Arabia. This portion of the trip is intended to reset the US-Saudi relationship
The president laughed off criticism that he shouldn’t have fist-bumped the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is believed to have ordered the gruesome 2018 murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi.
Mr Biden told reporters on Friday he pressed MBS about the “outrageous” murder during a wide-ranging meeting between US and Saudi top officials.
“I made my view crystal clear … for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and with who I am,” he said.
Rep Ilhan Omar says the trip to the kingdom “sends the wrong message to everyone who cares about human rights”.
Ahead of the visit, Israel and Saudi Arabia took an important step towards normalising relations with an agreement on flights and Red Sea islands.
Before flying to Jeddah, the president reaffirmed US support for “two states for two peoples” while in the West Bank. However, he acknowledged that the “ground is not ripe” to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Biden hails Trump-era Abraham Accords during trip to Israel
President Joe Biden on Thursday offered a wholehearted endorsement to the Abraham Accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and several Middle East monarchies brokered during the Trump administration. Mr Biden added that he would work to expand the efforts under his predecessor to deepen ties between Israel and its neighbours.
“We will also continue building on the Abraham Accords, which I strongly support because they deepen, they deepen Israel’s integration into the broader region and establish lasting ties for business, cooperation, and tourism,” Mr Biden said during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
Biden offers support for Trump-era Abraham Accords during trip to Israel
The accords are a Trump administration accomplishment which Mr Biden has not sought to repudiate
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2022 04:00
US ‘not going to wait forever’ for Iran to reenter nuclear agreement
President Joe Biden on Thursday warned that the negotiations meant to bring Iran back into the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Mr Biden was asked if he’d set a deadline for when he might walk away from the talks, which the US is hoping will re-start the agreement which former president Donald Trump walked away from in 2018.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2022 03:00
Khashoggi fiancee criticizes Biden visit
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, described Joe Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia as “heartbreaking,” accusing the U.S. president of backing down from his pledge of prioritizing human rights.
In an interview with The Associated Press in Istanbul a day before Biden travels to Saudi Arabia Friday to meet with the crown prince, Cengiz said Biden should press Saudi Arabia — a country that she described as a “terrible ally” — to embrace a human rights agenda. She also wants Biden to seek more answers from Saudi authorities over what happened to Khashoggi’s remains.
The AP Interview: Khashoggi fiancee criticizes Biden visit
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, is describing Joe Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia as “heartbreaking,” accusing the U.S. president of backing down from his pledge of prioritizing human rights
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2022 02:00
Biden says he’ll take action on climate change if Senate bill fails
President Joe Biden said that he would take executive action on climate change if Democrats’ proposed spending bill doesn’t include clean energy provisions, but he did not mention Senator Joe Manchin, who has been vocal about his opposition to a larger bill including climate provisions and tax increases.
The president is currently traveling in the Middle East while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer negotiates with Mr Manchin.
Biden says he’ll take action on climate if Senate doesn’t as Manchin says wait
‘I will not back down: the opportunity to create jobs and build a clean energy future is too important to relent’, Biden says.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2022 01:00
Biden’s weekend schedule
All times Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
11amThe president participates in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi of Iraq
11.40amThe president participates in a bilateral meeting with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi of Egypt
12.15pmThe president participates in a bilateral meeting with Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates
12.45pmThe president attends a GCC +3 Leaders Welcome Reception
12.55pmThe president participates in a family photo with GCC +3 leaders
1.15pmThe president attends the GCC +3 Summit Meeting
3pmThe president participates in a working lunch
4.45pmThe president departs Jeddah, Saudi Arabia en route Mildenhall, United Kingdom, for a refuelling stop before proceeding on to Washington, DC, with expected arrival time of 12.40am ET on Sunday.
Oliver O’Connell16 July 2022 00:00
Biden hints at news about oil prices during speech from Saudi Arabia
Joe Biden is hinting that a major announcement could come from the Saudis in regards to the oil supply in the coming weeks.
The president said on Friday he had a “good discussion” with the Saudis, who “share that urgency” to address oil supply and gas price issues that have challenged the US and beyond.
“Based on our discussion today, I expect we’ll see further steps in coming weeks,” he said during remarks from Jeddah.
John Bowden has a preview of what that might look like.
Will Joe Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia affect US gas prices?
Issue weighs on president as midterms approach
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 23:30
More on the moment reporter asked MBS to apologise to Khashoggi family
Peter Alexander, NBC News’ chief White House correspondent, was the reporter who shouted the questions to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as to whether he would apologise to the family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
According to Mr Alexander and other reporters in the room, the crown prince kept his eyes down and a smirk crossed his face.
THe White House press pool was given access to an extended portion of the meeting between President Joe Biden and MBS and their advisers.
Microphones at the meeting table were not turned on and the press was kept at a distance making it difficult to hear what the two men said.
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 23:15
In pictures: Biden meets with Saudi leaders at Al Salam Royal Palace
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 23:00
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi thanks Biden for raising her late husband’s murder with MBS
Statement from Mrs. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi regarding the meeting of President Biden with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 22:45
Biden remains committed to two-state solution
President Joe Biden has said he remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even if “the ground is not ripe” to restart negotiations between the two parties.
Speaking in Bethlehem alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, Mr Biden said “two states” — one Israeli, one Palestinian — established along Israel’s 1967 borders with “mutually agreed-to [land] swaps” remains the “best way to achieve equal measures of security, prosperity, freedom and democracy for the Palestinians as well as Israelis”.
Biden says he remains committed to two-state solution during West Bank visit
‘Palestinian people deserve a state of their own that’s independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous’
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 22:30