Washington: The Biden White House is being accused of rank hypocrisy after purportedly giving Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman a free pass despite US intelligence agencies concluding that he was complicit in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. The US president, who had excoriated Saudi Arabia and criticised his predecessors’ lack of action during the election campaign, is also reported to have concluded that the price of directly penalising the crown prince is too high considering Riyadh’s exalted status as an ally in countering Iran, and its help in building bridges with Israel in the Arab world. Although oil is no more a major factor, there are also apprehensions that punishing the prince will drive Saudi Arabia towards China.
Instead, the administration imposed travel and financial sanctions on dozens of other Saudis, including members of the elite Royal Guard who protect the crown prince, and announced a “Khashoggi ban”, which would allow the state department to impose visa restrictions on individuals who, “acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work, or who engage in such activities with respect to the families or other close associates of such persons”. Family members of such individuals also may be subject to visa curbs under this policy, where appropriate.
“While the United States remains invested in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, President Biden has made clear that partnership must reflect US values. To that end, we have made absolutely clear that extraterritorial threats and assaults by Saudi Arabia against activists, dissidents, and journalists must end. They will not be tolerated by the US,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
But the new administration is being panned for essentially sticking to the policy of previous administrations while making a big to-do before coming to office. During the election campaign, Biden had called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” state with “no redeeming social value,” and pledged action. The feeble argument being advanced now is merely releasing the intelligence report implicating the crown prince's embarrassment and punishment enough. In an interview the president said that he “spoke yesterday with the king, not the prince.” Biden added that he had “made it clear to him that the rules are changing, and we’re going to be announcing significant changes” to hold the Saudis accountable. “It is outrageous what happened.” Separately, the administration is also copping criticism for duplicity after critics dredged out tweets from Biden and his principals slamming the Trump’s Middle East airstrikes, and the coming to office and doing the same thing. Biden had called Trump “erratic” and “impulsive”.
