Jamal Khashoggi killing: Donald Trump backs Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman’ version
The President bluntly dismissed calls to punish Saudi Arabia over Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, saying their alliance is more important.
Donald Trump has bluntly dismissed calls to punish Saudi Arabia for its killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying a strong alliance with the kingdom was more important.
In one of the clearest examples of the president’s “America First” approach to foreign policy, Mr Trump cited American jobs, the fight against Iran and oil prices as reasons to continue to back the alliance.
In a strongly worded statement, Mr Trump said he came to no conclusion about whether the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the plot to murder Mr Khashoggi.
The was despite the CIA’s findings that the Crown Prince did know of the murder plot.
“King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi,” Mr Trump said.
“Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!.”
“That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!”
The president’s statement came after he was briefed by the CIA on the death of Mr Khashoggi who was murdered and dismembered by a team of Saudi agents after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
Mr Trump has been briefed by the CIA but is was unclear whether he has seen the CIA’s final report which was due to be delivered the White House today.
In the statement, which began with the words “America First”, the president highlighted the role Saudi Arabia played in combating Iran’s influence in the Middle East, including terrorism.
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“The world is a very dangerous place,” Mr Trump said. “The country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, trying to destabilise Iraq’s fragile attempt at democracy, supporting the terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon, propping up dictator Bashar Assad in Syria (who has killed millions of his own citizens), and much more.”
He said Saudi Arabia was active in Yemen only because Iran was and that Riyadh had agree to spend billions of dollars in combating radical Islamic extremism.
Mr Trump said any sanctions against Saudi Arabia would only punish Americans and would gift large defence contracts to China and Russia.
“After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States,” he said.
“If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries — and very happy to acquire all of this newfound business. It would be a wonderful gift to them directly from the United States!”
Mr Trump described the crime against Mr Khashoggi as ‘a terrible one’ which the US did not condone, and said the US had already sanctioned the 17 people involved in the killing.
But in the end, he said America’s broader interests required that the alliance with Saudi Arabia not be damaged.
“As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!,” he said.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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