JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday called on Saudi Arabia and Israel to establish relations, shortly before he left for a three-day trip to Riyadh.
"The United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Blinken told the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee in Washington.
He promised the pro-Israel lobby group he would fight for it, during a visit to Riyadh.
"We remain committed to working towards that outcome, including on the journey I will travel this week to Jeddah and Riyadh," said Foreign Minister Blinken.
Israel is known to have long sought to establish a relationship with Saudi Arabia. However, the kingdom said it would not establish formal relations until progress in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Foreign Minister Blinken admits normalization will not happen "faster or easier", but says Uncle Sam's country will work hard to help achieve it.
However, he warned the process should not sacrifice progress with Palestine.
"Efforts to integrate and normalize are no substitute for progress between Israel and Palestine," Foreign Minister Blinken explained.
Separately, Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a researcher at the Democracy Defense Foundation, said, adding to the warning, the government's possibility of making "tactic" steps to try to push for movement between Israel and Palestine, which has been in opposite direction for several years.
Previously, the US helped mediate with Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain in September 2020. Morocco and Sudan have since joined.
The Biden administration has tried to expand the deal, which was signed under former President Donald Trump, but has not yet reached an important diplomatic victory in the region.
Foreign Minister Blinken said that since President Joe Biden took office, there has been "real progress" in the Middle East.
"If you look back over the past year, Saudi Arabia and Oman have opened up their airspace for civilian flights to and from Israel," he explained.
Blinken also said that the formation of I2U2, a strategic partnership between the US, UAE, Israel and India, is another example of President Biden's efforts in the region.
The group aims to overcome the various challenges facing the world through investment in various industries and sectors, including water, energy, transportation and food security.
However, critics accuse President Biden's Administration of ignoring the Middle East. Blinken hopes to improve relations with the region during its journey, which will include attending the US-Saudi Strategic dialogue and the GCC meeting.
"We have all stated that this is an important strategic partnership and has been going on for 80 years," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
"This doesn't mean we always agree with Saudis in everything, or they agree with us in everything," he said.
Foreign Minister Blinken is expected to meet with Saudi Arabian officials while in the region, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who will host a meeting of the Global Coalition to beat ISIS.
This visit was made following the decision of Opec+ member countries to extend oil production cuts.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, will cut its voluntary production by 1 million barrels per day in July.
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The move has raised concerns in the US that gasoline prices will soar as residents travel for summer holidays.
However, the State Department is reducing oil cutting time.
"We believe that supply must meet demand and we will continue to work closely with all manufacturers and consumers, to ensure that the energy market supports economic growth and lower prices for American families," said State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.
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