Washington: We will communicate with Riyadh through King Salman, not his crown prince

SANAA, Feb. 17 (YPA) – US President Joe Biden plans to re-evaluate US relations with Saudi Arabia, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

She added that the US administration will communicate with Riyadh through Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, not Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The White House said the United States would help Saudi Arabia meet the needs of self-defense.

Psaki’s remarks marked a sudden change in US policy from a predecessor headed by Donald Trump, whose son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner was close to the Saudi crown prince.

The White House said Friday that there are no plans to contact Saudi Arabia.

She added that no call was planned for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“It is clear that there is a review of our policy as it relates to Saudi Arabia,” she said at the daily press conference. I don’t know of plans to contact the kingdom.”

Earlier, Sake avoided answering a question about whether the administration would impose sanctions on the kingdom in connection with the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia are changing, and President Biden assured the Saudis that he would consult not only with Israel on interaction with Iran but also with its leaders, the Herald Tribune reported.

E.M