Prior to the meeting, Joe Biden had promised to raise issues of human rights with the Crown Prince.
– We talked about human rights and the need for reforms. I was clear that the subject is very important to me and the United States. Especially the murder of Khashoggi, Biden said at the press conference in Riyadh late on Friday night.
Controversial visit
His journey is controversial. Intelligence services in the USA have judged that the prince gave the green light for the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi 2018 who wrote for the newspaper Washington Post.
After the assassination, the United States distanced itself from Saudi Arabia. With Joe Biden’s journey to the region, that time seems to be over.
The journey has created a massive wave of criticism. “Shameful” comments the Washington Post’s editor-in-chief Fred Ryan.
– I was clear what I was thinking then and what I am thinking now. I was straight to the point. I made my position crystal clear, Biden said.
What was the prince’s response to what you said about Kashoggi?
– He said he was not personally responsible. I indicated that he was. He said he was taking action against those responsible.
A reporter referred to a statement by Khashoggi’s wife: “You have the blood on your hands”.
– I’m terribly sorry she feels that way. I was straightforward then and I was straightforward today.
The Council of the Yellow States
Biden claimed that he did not travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Prince bin Salman. It was about tomorrow’s meeting with the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The organization is headquartered in Riyadh.
– I came here to meet GCCs to discuss security and the free world.
Biden said the United States will withdraw peacekeeping forces from a strategic island off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
The United States and the United Kingdom will also increase cooperation in mobile technology. Biden began the press conference by saying that Saudi Arabia has now opened the airspace to all civilian airlines – including Israeli ones.