Want to repair the relationship? AFP: Limited role. Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week for strategy | the United States | role
The US State Department announced on the 2nd that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week to discuss "strategic cooperation" between the two countries. Some analysts said that Antony Blinken's visit sought to repair the bilateral relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and tried to promote the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but it was difficult to make a breakthrough.
The US State Department said in a brief press release that Antony Blinken's visit to Saudi Arabia from the 6th to the 8th will discuss "strategic cooperation in regional and global affairs" between the US and Saudi Arabia, as well as a series of bilateral affairs, including economic and security cooperation. During his visit, Antony Blinken will attend the ministerial meeting of the United States Gulf Arab States Cooperation Council to discuss cooperation between the United States and GCC countries in security, stability, economy and other aspects of the Middle East. In addition, combating extremist organizations was also the topic of Antony Blinken's visit.
Reuters: Disagreements and suspicions between the United States and Saudi Arabia have deepened in recent years
![Want to repair the relationship? AFP: Limited role. Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week for strategy | the United States | role](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/7c81173995923cdd26b68dd1105127ab.jpg)
Antony Blinken is the second senior American official to visit Saudi Arabia within a month after Sullivan, the national security affairs assistant to the President of the United States in early May. Reuters said that the differences and suspicions between the United States and Saudi Arabia have deepened in recent years, and the US hopes to stabilize its relationship with Saudi Arabia through visits.
Agence France Presse: Although senior US officials frequently visit Saudi Arabia, their role is limited
According to Agence France Presse, the United States' criticism of Saudi Arabia on human rights issues has led to strained relations between the two countries. President Biden's recent visit to Saudi Arabia nearly a year ago and Sullivan's recent visit have had limited impact on improving bilateral relations.
![Want to repair the relationship? AFP: Limited role. Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week for strategy | the United States | role](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/167d5fdc05c4ad05a6b5dc9f8f243e23.jpg)
On the other hand, after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Saudi Arabia refused to take sides and did not comply with the US's demand to lower crude oil prices. Instead, it decided to reduce production, causing displeasure from the US. Reuters reported that the long-term pillar of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the role of "oil for security," is weakening. Gregory Gauss, a professor of international affairs at Texas A&M University in the United States, said that during the Cold War, major strategic initiatives of the United States could receive significant support from Saudi Arabia. After the end of the Cold War, Saudi Arabia had little choice. But now, the period of extreme dominance by the United States is basically over, and the Saudis understand that they have other options.