US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Alsalam Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 15, 2022.
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The administration of US President Joe Biden on Friday rejected claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia shows a weakening of American influence in the Middle East, insisting that the US “is not going anywhere or where.”
Tim Lenderking, the US special representative for Yemen, said diplomatic visits by other world powers were to be expected, but said the US had reaffirmed its commitment to the region after Biden’s visit in July. .
“The big message that the president has brought to this place is that the United States is not going anywhere,” Lenderking told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.
Reports emerged on Thursday that Xi will arrive in Saudi Arabia next week for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – China’s first official foreign visit since 2020 – as Beijing and Riyadh seek to strengthen ties . China’s foreign ministry on Thursday neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry and China’s foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC on Friday.
That Xi is expected to be met with all the pomp and pageantry accorded former US President Donald Trump during his 2017 visit does nothing to improve the outlook for Biden’s visit, which was a key issue for analysts. the ring has achieved little in the midst of broken relationships. between the two leaders. However, Lenderking insisted that the US maintain a “significant” presence.
“The United States is an important partner not only to Saudi Arabia but to every country in the region,” he said.
“America can be counted on to stay in the neighborhood as a support to countries and their security. That is America’s first priority,” he added.
Yemen conflict
Within that, Yemen – wracked by civil war since 2014 – is the main focus of the US, said Lenderking, whom Biden appointed special envoy to the country last year. On the same subject : What to see from Joe Biden’s journey to the G7.
Lenderking said that progress toward conflict resolution was a major achievement for Biden during his visit last month. That included convincing Saudi Arabia to expand and strengthen the UN alliance and participate in negotiations to end the war.
As a result, the conflict is now in the middle of a resolution, Lenderking said.
Yemen has been fighting a civil war between the Yemeni government and the armed Houthi movement since 2014.
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“I think we’re 50% better; I wouldn’t have said that six months ago,” he said. “We have time to change the course of the conflict. This is the time to do it.”
He also said that Yemen is a crisis in which bad relations can be ignored and cooperation with China and Russia in the region can be accepted.
China “wants to see progress in Yemen during its presidency of the security council,” he said, referring to Beijing’s current role as head of the United Nations Security Council.
“I think it is important where we can find commonality between us – China, Russia, the United States – to work together to resolve the conflict in Yemen,” he added.
Rising nuclear risks in the region
Lenderking also noted that Iran, with which the US shares a long history of strained relations, could play a constructive role in resolving the conflict in Yemen. On the same subject : A conversation in the basement, a virtual handshake led to the Manchin-Schumer agreement. However, he said that was not necessary for the decision.
It comes against a backdrop of ongoing talks between the US and Iran to renew the 2015 nuclear deal.
Asked if he believed it was possible to see nuclear weapons in countries like Iran and other potential countries in the region, Lenderking replied: “I think it would be unfortunate . I hope not.”
Clarification: This article has been updated to reflect that Lenderking was asked if he believed it was possible to see nuclear weapons in countries including Iran.
