The Saudi government is sending signals that it is willing to cooperate in Yemen and to improve human rights in an effort to avoid a crisis with President Biden.
Driving the news: Two events on Wednesday highlighted these efforts: prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who led the fight to allow Saudi women to lead, was released from prison; and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan met in Riyadh with the new US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking.
Flashback: On the campaign trail, Biden accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, stressed that he would not sell weapons to the Saudis and vowed to “make them the outcast they are.”
- Now in charge, Biden has frozen an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, announced a halt to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen, and backed Donald Trump’s designation of Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist group.
The other side: The Saudis have not publicly criticized Biden’s moves and are trying to navigate the new reality through private talks with the administration.
- Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid Bin Salman, brother and confidant of the Crown Prince, seized the only positive line of Biden’s recent foreign policy speech, in which he said the US would help Saudi Arabia defend itself. .
- Meanwhile, Bin Farhan welcomed Lenderking’s appointment despite Biden’s move to Yemen. On Wednesday, they discussed ways to find a political solution to the crisis, according to the Saudi foreign ministry.
- Al-Hathloul’s release after 2.5 years in prison is another indication that the Saudis want to avoid a human rights clash with Biden. His arrest had caused outrage around the world
The important step of the Crown Prince, finally, important legal and judicial reforms can be announced on Monday that will establish civil law in the country for the first time, in addition to Islamic law.
- “The absence of applicable legislation has led to discrepancies in decisions and a lack of clarity in the principles governing facts and practices. … This was painful for many people and families, especially women, who allowed to some to evade their responsibilities, ”the Crown Prince said.
- The timing of the announcement seems like a signal to the Biden administration.
It is necessary to emphasize: Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with Bin Farhan on Friday, after he had already spoken with several other Arab foreign ministers. In the call, he stressed the need for the Saudis to take action on human rights and end the war in Yemen.