Biden to travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel next month: source

Biden's planned trip to Saudi Arabia has been criticised by US officials who have urged the President not to visit the Kingdom over Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's alleged role in the murder of journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi.

World

2 min read

�� Staff & Agencies

13 June, 2022

Biden will travel to Saudi Arabia next month, according to a source [Getty]

US President will travel to and Israel next month and the White House is planning to announce the trip this week, a source familiar with the planning said on Sunday.

Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia could include a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince , the source said.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia ordered the brutal murder of an American resident and journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.

For that — and many other human rights violations — he should be shunned.

I would not meet with him or shake his hand.

President Biden shouldn’t either.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff)

The White House has said Biden feels that the crown prince is a "pariah" for his role in the killing of a political opponent, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in Turkey in 2018.

Khashoggi's murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul tainted the crown prince's image as a reformist. The Saudi government has denied any involvement by him.

The visit would be aimed at bolstering relations with Saudi Arabia at a time when Biden is trying to find ways to lower gasoline prices in the United States.