Top American diplomat begins trip to the Middle East in Saudi Arabia
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first stop of a trip to the Middle East, amid efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a pause in Israel’s offensive in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages and a flow of more humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
The visit to the city of Jeddah comes as the Biden administration hopes to convince Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, a long-term goal that the United States considers important for stabilizing the broader Middle East.
The State Department said Mr Blinken would be in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Egypt on Thursday to meet with the two countries’ “leadership”. No specific officials were mentioned.
Mr Blinken told reporters in Manila on Tuesday that his discussions in the Middle East would also include post-war plans for Gaza and the wider region.
He also said he would focus on “the right architecture for lasting regional peace,” an apparent reference to diplomacy between the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia to reach a joint agreement.
Such a pact would likely require Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians in return for its first-ever formal diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia. In turn, the Saudis want the United States and Israel to support them the establishment of a civilian nuclear program on Saudi soilas well as greater military support from Washington.
After a period of deep tense relationsSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Biden found common ground earlier this year in exploring a potential deal in which Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel and establish diplomatic ties.
Many Arab governments, including Saudi Arabia, have done so as well refused for a long time to establish diplomatic ties with Israel before the establishment of a Palestinian state. Over the past decade, however, that calculus has shifted, as the region’s authoritarian leaders have weighed negative public opinion about a relationship with Israel against the economic and security benefits it could provide—and what they could obtain in return from the United States.
Framing the prospect of building bonds Working with Israel as a way to gain greater rights for the Palestinians could allow Prince Mohammed to limit popular backlash in his own country, where hostility toward Israel and support for the Palestinians is widespread.
Mr Blinken’s trip comes as negotiators from Israel have joined officials from Egypt and Qatar hold meetings in the Qatari capital Doha, aimed at achieving a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.