US Re-establishes Relations After Khashoggi Murder Case, Saudi Arabia Warmly Responds By Preventing Russia From Approaching Iraq

JAKARTA - United States (US) President Joe Biden will discuss volatile oil prices during the Arab Summit in Jeddah on Saturday, July 16 local time.

The meeting was attended by leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, including Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

In this event, Biden also re-knit relations with Saudi Arabia even better. Relations between the US and Saudi Arabia are known to have been strained due to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

The US had noted that the case was a gross human rights violation. US intelligence accuses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of "approving" the operation that targeted the killing of Khashoggi.

Al-Arabiya media reported that the US and Saudis had overcome this problem during Biden's visit this time. Prince Mohammed said he regretted the incident and said he had taken all legal measures to prevent such a case from happening again.

On the one hand, Al-Arabiya also mentioned that Biden is interested in re-cooperating with Saudi Arabia to become a US Gulf ally, as well as the world's largest oil exporter and loyal arms buyer.

However, Biden said US expectations for the Saudis could not be realized immediately. On Friday, July 16, Biden said the US deal with the Saudis could not be realized overnight.

However, on the same day, Saudi Arabia announced that the US and Saudi Arabia had signed 18 agreements in various sectors, including energy, aerospace, health and investment, and the development of 5G and 6G technologies.

Biden, who visited Saudi Arabia for the first time as president, also expressed his vision of Washington's role in the Arab region so as not to hand over influence to Russia and China.

Meanwhile, Washington officials said that the US vision was welcomed by the Saudis by cooperating with Iraq. The Saudis agreed to provide Iraq with a more diversified source of electricity. Iraq is so far dependent on electricity and energy from Iran.

This effort is also an act of cutting Russia's hand which has recently continued to promise Iran stability. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also scheduled to visit Iran in the near future.

"Russia is gradually making a deal with Iran. We are doing it so that the Middle East region is more integrated, more stable, more peaceful and prosperous," the official said, quoted from News.com.au, Saturday, July 16.

"We will not leave a void in the Middle East for Russia or China to fill."