US election: Saudis last of Gulf pack to reach out to Joe Biden

Saudi Arabia rulers have become the last of Gulf Arab leaders to congratulate Joe Biden.

Donald Trump developed close ties with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Picture: AFP

Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince have congratulated Joe Biden on winning the election, a day after TV networks declared him the victor.

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent congratulatory messages to Mr Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

It added the King stressed their two countries’ “close historical relations, which everyone seeks to strengthen and further develop in all fields”.

Top oil exporter Saudi was the last Gulf country to report congratulating Mr Biden on his defeat of Donald Trump. The UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar had congratulated him on his success by late Saturday night.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia hosted Mr Trump on his first official visit overseas. The President established very close ties, in particular with de facto ruler Mohammed.

Mr Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal two years ago and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions on Tehran played well in Saudi Arabia and much of the rest of the Gulf. His warm ties with the Gulf Arab states contrast with those of Barack Obama, whom Mr Biden served as Vice President. Analysts say Riyadh fears a rollback of sanctions imposed against Iran.

Mr Trump also pushed back against anti-Saudi resolutions in congress over the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi’s Istanbul consulate.

The Biden-Harris campaign said on the second anniversary of Khashoggi’s killing this year that their administration “will reassess our relationship with the kingdom” to “make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil”.

AFP