Did The Biden Administration Conduct A Review On The Current State Of U.S. - Saudi Relations?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) welcomes U.S. President Joe Biden to Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 15, 2022. | Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP Photo  

Politico: Biden’s informal review of Saudi Arabia 

The Biden administration just can’t quit Saudi Arabia. After Riyadh-led OPEC+ cut oil production last year, a move that would bulge Russia’s wallet, the administration promised to reevaluate the state of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. 

President JOE BIDEN even threatened “consequences” for the kingdom, a signal that the decadeslong cozy relationship was poised for a downgrade. 

Many months later, there haven’t been any consequences or shifts. CIA Director WILLIAM BURNS even made an unannounced visit to Saudi this week to reaffirm close intelligence ties between Washington and Riyadh. 

The reason is that the administration never actually conducted a formal review, per multiple U.S. officials NatSec Daily spoke to. There were numerous inter-agency discussions and sensitive diplomatic conversations during the course of the normal policy making process. But there was neither a determined start to the reevaluation, nor will there be an end. It’s an ongoing, amorphous conversation. 

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