Biden to visit Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON, June 14: US President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia next month as part of his trip to the Middle East that also includes Israel and the West Bank, the White House announced Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden will visit the Middle East region from July 13-16 “to reinforce the United States’ iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity and attend a Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council plus Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan (GCC+3).” Biden will first travel to Israel, where he will meet with Israeli leaders and he will also visit the West Bank “to consult with the Palestinian Authority and to reiterate his strong support for a two-state solution, with equal measures of security, freedom and opportunity for the Palestinian people.”

Biden will then travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, “which is the current chair of the GCC and the venue for this gathering of nine leaders from across the region, at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.” While in Saudi Arabia, Biden will discuss a range of bilateral, regional and global issues,” the statement noted. “These include support to the UN-mediated truce in Yemen, which has led to the most peaceful period there since war began seven years ago.” Biden will also discuss “means for expanding regional economic and security cooperation.” (KUNA)