Category: Saudi Arabia

State Department Approves Sale of 300 Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia

The State Department has approved the possible sale of 300 Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia for around $3.05 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). DSCA informed Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday, which comes after President Joe Biden visited the Gulf kingdom in July and met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud…


Trump Defends His Hosting of Saudi-Backed Golf Tourney, Says ‘Nobody’s Gotten to the Bottom of 9/11’

Former President Donald Trump defended his decision to host a golf tournament financed by Saudi Arabia at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey amid mounting criticism from the families of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. LIV Golf is financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by Saudi Crown…


Biden’s Failure to Get Saudis to Pump More Crude Has US Oil Producers Calling for ‘Loosening the Taps Here’

American oil producers have urged President Joe Biden to focus his attention on ramping up domestic production in the wake of his failure to persuade Saudi Arabia to pump more crude. Biden met with Saudi officials on a recent trip to the Middle East, where he did not manage to secure a pledge to ramp…


Bernie Sanders Rebukes Biden Visit to Saudi Arabia: Brutal Dictatorship

In comments to ABC This Week host Martha Raddatz on July 17, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that President Joe Biden should not have rewarded a brutal dictatorship like Saudi Arabia with a visit. In reply to Raddatz’s question whether the visit to Saudi Arabia should have been made, Sanders said,  “No, I don’t think…


Biden Rebuked for Visit to Saudi Arabia: Bernie Sanders

In comments to ABC This Week host Martha Raddatz on July 17, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that President Joe Biden should not have rewarded a brutal dictatorship like Saudi Arabia with a visit. In reply to Raddatz’s question whether the visit to Saudi Arabia should have been made, Sanders said,  “No, I don’t think…


Oil Jumps After Biden Fails to Win Saudi Pledge to Pump More Crude

Oil prices rose on July 18 as the U.S. dollar softened and after President Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to Saudi Arabia, failing to secure a pledge from the Middle Eastern country to boost crude output. Brent crude futures for September settlement rose $2.42, or 2.4 percent, to $103.58 a barrel by 5:30 a.m….


Biden Hits Back After Saudi Official Makes Claim on Meeting With Crown Prince

President Joe Biden early Sunday disputed a claim that he didn’t accuse Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of orchestrating the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in private meetings. After arriving home in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Biden was asked by a reporter about a comment from the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir. “The…


Australia, US Defense Leaders Weigh in on Pacific

President Joe Biden pays the Middle East a visit. But there’s controversy surrounding his trip, which comes as Beijing works to boost its influence in the region. A successful hypersonic missile test was conducted off California’s coast, with more sophisticated testing coming later this year, as the United States and China race to develop the…


Capitol Report (July 15): Officials: Border Crisis Constitutes Invasion; Getting Out of Inflation Spiral

On Capitol Hill, House Democrats passed a bill to expand abortion access and make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. Republicans are pushing back. Will there be enough support to get this through in the Senate? With President Joe Biden overseas hoping to get the Saudis to produce more oil, inflation still rages…


Biden Meets With Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Amid ‘Energy Security’ Concerns

President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday and gave Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a fist bump and shook hands with King Salman, coming after then-candidate Biden pledged to make the kingdom a “pariah” on the world stage. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday that the flight “follows the monumental decision to…