Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit to the White House
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, recently visited the White House, where he met with President Trump to discuss various topics, including investments and human rights. During their meeting, President Trump announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would increase its investments in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. This significant increase in investment is expected to have a substantial impact on the US economy.
President Trump expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince for the investment, stating, “I want to thank you because you’ve agreed to invest $600 billion into the United States, and because he’s my friend, he might make it a trillion, but I’m going to have to work on him.” MBS agreed that the figure would be close to $1 trillion, which would be a significant increase from the initial $450 billion investment announced during President Trump’s first administration.
Background on Saudi Investments in the US
However, it’s worth noting that the actual exports of American goods and services to Saudi Arabia from 2017 to 2020 totaled only around $92 billion, according to an economic analysis by the Arab Gulf States Institute. This is significantly lower than the initial $450 billion investment announced by President Trump. Additionally, a May 2017 defense agreement with the kingdom worth around $110 billion was supposed to take effect immediately, but according to records kept by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Defense Department formally notified Congress of roughly $23 billion in possible arms sales to Saudi Arabia between 2017 and 2020.
Despite the discrepancies in the investment figures, the Crown Prince’s visit to the White House marks a significant development in the relationship between the two countries. This visit is also notable as it is MBS’s first US visit since the killing of Washington Post journalist and human rights activist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The CIA assessed that the Crown Prince had ordered the killing, but MBS has denied any involvement, while taking responsibility for the death as it was “committed by individuals working for the Saudi government.”
Human Rights Concerns
During the Oval Office meeting, President Trump praised the Crown Prince’s record on human rights, despite the State Department’s list of concerns about human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. The President stated, “We have an extremely respected man in the Oval Office today and a friend of mine for a long time, a very good friend of mine. I’m very proud of the job, what he’s done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else.” However, this statement has raised concerns among human rights activists and experts, who point to the Kingdom’s poor human rights record.
When asked about Khashoggi’s killing, MBS expressed that it was “really painful to hear that anyone losing his life for no real purpose.” President Trump also commented on the issue, stating that “a lot of people didn’t like that gentleman [Khashoggi]” and added that “he [bin Salman] knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.” The exchange has sparked controversy and raised questions about the US’s stance on human rights and its relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Crown Prince’s visit to the White House and the announcement of increased investments in the US have significant implications for the relationship between the two countries. While the investment figures and human rights concerns have raised questions, it is clear that the US and Saudi Arabia are committed to strengthening their ties. For more information on this topic, visit Here
Image Source: www.cbsnews.com
