According to information from Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his concern about human rights violations during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.
According to information from Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his concern about human rights violations during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman. After Tuesday’s meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, US officials said Blinken and bin Salman had an “open, frank discussion” in which the US chief diplomat spoke about human rights “in general” and “with a view to specific issues.” have spoken.
The talks, which lasted a good one and a half hours, covered, among other things, support for Saudi Arabia for evacuation campaigns by the USA in the fighting-torn Sudan, negotiations in the civil war country Yemen and a possible normalization of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Prior to Blinken’s meeting with bin Salman, activists urged the US Secretary of State to address the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have been allies for decades, but relations have soured significantly in recent years. Washington has repeatedly accused Riyadh of human rights violations, and the 2018 murder of government-critical journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul continues to overshadow the relationship. In addition, Washington reacted angrily to Saudi Arabia’s increase in oil prices, which had taken place in collusion with Russia.