In recent weeks, the United States has handed over to Saudi Arabia a significant number of Patriot interceptor missiles in an attempt by the administration of President Joe Biden to ease tensions in more complex relations between the two countries, according to the Associated Press.
A senior spokesman for the administration, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the missiles had been sent to Saudi Arabia. He said the decision was in line with Biden’s promise that America would support its allies in the region.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan yesterday condemned the Houthi rebels in Yemen after carrying out one of their most intense drone and missile attacks on important energy facilities in Saudi Arabia. One of them caught fire and the other temporarily suspended work.
Bilateral relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have become strained since President Joe Biden took office, according to the AP. He refused to work directly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and removed the Hutus from the list of terrorist groups. Last year, the Biden administration released a declassified intelligence report suggesting that the Saudi crown prince approved the actions of a team of security and intelligence personnel who killed journalist Jamal Hashoggi in October 2018 in Istanbul. The assassination of the critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been condemned by the world community.
The Crown Prince insists on his non-involvement in the operation by Saudi operatives.
Last month, the White House sent Brett McGurk, National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East, and Amos Hochstein, an envoy to the State Department of Energy, to Riyadh to discuss a number of issues with Saudi officials, most notably the Yemen war and energy.
So far, Saudi Arabia has refused to increase crude oil production to ease the price spike caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.