Biden Raised Khashoggi Murder at Meeting With Saudi Crown Prince

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — President Biden said he raised the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the beginning of his meeting with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Friday.“I said, very straightforwardly, for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and who I am,” Mr. Biden said. “I’ll always stand up for our values.”American intelligence believes that the crown prince likely approved the killing of Khashoggi, an American-based writer, four years ago. His murder has loomed over Mr. Biden’s efforts to reset relations with Saudi Arabia.Mr. Biden also announced that U.S. peacekeepers would leave the Red Sea island of Tiran by the end of the year, part of an agreement reached during what he called “a good series of meetings” in Jeddah.The meeting, meant to repair one of the world’s most important diplomatic relationships, began with a fist bump Friday as the crown prince welcomed Mr. Biden at a royal palace.The first encounter, captured by Saudi television, occurred as Mr. Biden stepped out of his presidential limousine in Jeddah for a visit that is intended to reset their countries’ longstanding partnership.There was little evidence of any warmth between the leaders, and none of the backslapping or smiles that Mr. Biden or the crown prince usually display when greeting other leaders.Mr. Biden had long refused to speak to Prince Mohammed, the presumed heir to the throne currently held by his father, King Salman. And he harshly criticized the oil-rich kingdom for its human rights abuses, particularly the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, an American-based journalist.But those concerns have since been eclipsed by other challenges, including rising gas prices and Iranian aggression in the Middle East. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is looking to bolster its security relationship with the United States and seeking investments to transform its economy into one that’s less reliant on pumping oil.The Saudis held a subdued welcome for Mr. Biden at the airport in Jeddah, with none of the ceremony that accompanied his stop this week in Israel.

Biden Raised Khashoggi Murder at Meeting With Saudi Crown Prince

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