Biden fist bumps Saudi crown prince on trip that seeks to reset ties

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 15 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden gave a fist bump to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday, state tv confirmed, throughout a visit to Saudi Arabia that’s being watched for physique language and rhetoric as Washington seeks to reset relations.

White Home officers had labored arduous on the optics of the assembly between Biden and the crown prince, often known as MbS, who Biden has criticized for his function within the killing of Washington Submit journalist and political opponent Jamal Khashoggi.

Ultimately, it was a fist bump and wordless trade in entrance of the king’s royal palace in Jeddah that’s prone to be the defining picture of the go to by the U.S. president, who as soon as promised to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” state.

The president’s aides steered earlier than he landed in Israel – the primary leg of his journey – that Biden would keep away from handshakes throughout his journey as a result of quickly spreading new coronavirus subvariant — however inside minutes of his arrival in Israel Biden allotted with the principles and was shaking arms.

He continued shaking arms in the course of the Israel go to earlier than heading to Saudi Arabia.

“For some motive, Biden’s political staff thinks a fist bump is much less of a press release of friendship than a handshake and deliberate to have him fist bump everybody with a purpose to make it much less notable that he wasn’t shaking MbS’ hand,” mentioned Kristen Fontenrose, a fellow of overseas relations on the Atlantic Council and a former Trump administration official.

Throughout the Saudi go to, Biden is anticipated to debate human rights, one among a number of points that strained ties after U.S. intelligence concluded the crown prince immediately authorized the 2018 homicide of Washington Submit columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The crown prince denies having any function within the killing.

On arrival within the Saudi port metropolis of Jeddah, Biden was greeted by Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the governor of Mecca province and never by the crown prince, the dominion’s de facto ruler, or the aged king.

Sometimes, the White Home releases names earlier than touchdown of overseas officers who will welcome the president, however this time particulars solely got here out after Biden left the airport.

When former U.S. President Donald Trump, who loved shut ties with MbS, visited Saudi Arabia in 2017 he was greeted by King Salman, who has made few public appearances just lately.

The Mecca governor met France’s president when he visited Jeddah late final 12 months.

Biden departed for Israel late on Tuesday after spending a part of the late afternoon and early night shaking a number of arms on the White Home South Garden throughout a congressional picnic.

Reporting by Steve Holland, Aziz el Yaakoubi, Maha El Dahan and Jarrett Renshaw; Writing by Edmund Blair; Modifying by Catherine Evans

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