Biden met with Saudi crown prince amid tensions over Khashoggi murder

File photo

 

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — President Joe Biden arrived Friday in Saudi Arabia where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a controversial sit-down he had earlier insisted would not take place.

The crown prince greeted Biden as he arrived at the royal palace where the two leaders exchanged a fist bump, but no handshake.

Biden has alternated between handshakes and fist bumps throughout the four days of his Middle East swing after the White House said he would “minimize contact” during the trip as a Covid precaution.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-meet-saudi-crown-prince-tensions-khashoggi-killing-rcna38379

Why a fist bump? Maybe he didn't want the Crown Prince to feel his sweaty hand, he does look very shaky, maybe it's just the long flight.

59 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

Why a fist bump? Maybe he didn't want the Crown Prince to feel his sweaty hand, he does look very shaky, maybe it's just the long flight.

It is because of Covid.  The President has been advised to try not to shake hands.  He did shake hands with the King, but otherwise, during most of the trip has been without hand shaking.  

 

It was clear that the Crown Prince had been advised of the protocol because he did not extend his hand but did extend his fist.   

 

when oils come to play, nothing matters.

He went there to pressure for increased oil production and contracts for the USA companies to import. Beside OPEC quotas, from vast SA reserves.

In the previous 5 years Saudi Arabia has increased armaments import by 61% - most from the USA, which increased global exports by 15%.

So arms for oil deal was done once again, but nothing was ever mentioned in any press releases. That's how international politics works.

Biden arrived to Riyadh from Israel, another big importer of american armaments.

Both countries are the middle east powers or police for the USA interests in the region. That's why biden visited them right now, in the wake of oil crisis 

https://www.dw.com/en/sipri-saudi-arabia-largest-importer-of-arms-us-biggest-exporter/a-56872307

Edited July 16, 20223 yr by internationalism

4 minutes ago, internationalism said:

He went there to pressure for increase oil production and contracts for the USA companies to import.

Yes, to please his extreme far left green lobby and stop US drilling of oil ! 

Troll post and post with false or misleading information have been removed. 

Every country should shun these pigs, especially the US.

 

Otherwise stop talking about human rights.

Another troll post has been removed.  Further trolling or posting false information will earn suspensions. 

1 hour ago, brucegoniners said:

Every country should shun these pigs, especially the US.

 

Otherwise stop talking about human rights.

As if the USA is squeaky clean.. plsssssssssss

4 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

Every country should shun these pigs, especially the US.

 

Otherwise stop talking about human rights.

The Saudis control the rate at which they are pumping oil into the world market and therefore always have an influence on the price of oil on the world market.

 

Their oil, their choice.

 

The only way a nation can free itself from Saudi influence over oil prices is to move off dependency on oil based energy.

 

Biden is caught between a rock and a hard place. The only countries with a surplus in oil reserves are Venezuela, Russia and Saudi Arabia. There is a national security imperative to convince one of them to increase production to reduce the price of oil.

9 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Biden is caught between a rock and a hard place. The only countries with a surplus in oil reserves are Venezuela, Russia and Saudi Arabia. There is a national security imperative to convince one of them to increase production to reduce the price of oil.

A neighboring country has more than enough to fuel the US until oil is replaced with something else.

Shouldn't have cancelled Keystone XL joe, it was almost completed, and still could be.

 

3. Canada - 167 Billion Barrels

It may come as a surprise to see Canada as #3 on this list. Mostly known as the land of friendly people, moose, and snowy winters, Canada also has significant oil reserves in the western province of Alberta, however. This petroleum sits in the country’s controversial oil sands. 

10 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Biden is caught between a rock and a hard place. The only countries with a surplus in oil reserves are Venezuela, Russia and Saudi Arabia. There is a national security imperative to convince one of them to increase production to reduce the price of oil.

You forgot Iran. Which also has huge reserves of natural gas. We can thank Trump for swallowing the arguments of the Israelis and the Sunni muslim nations for sabotaging the Iranian nuclear agreement and keeping their products away from the West.

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

You forgot Iran. Which also has huge reserves of natural gas. We can thank Trump for swallowing the arguments of the Israelis and the Sunni muslim nations for sabotaging the Iranian nuclear agreement and keeping their products away from the West.

My understanding is that Iranian oil production has been largely curtailed by sanctions preventing them from buying parts. I may be wrong on this point.

1 hour ago, kwonitoy said:

A neighboring country has more than enough to fuel the US until oil is replaced with something else.

Shouldn't have cancelled Keystone XL joe, it was almost completed, and still could be.

 

3. Canada - 167 Billion Barrels

It may come as a surprise to see Canada as #3 on this list. Mostly known as the land of friendly people, moose, and snowy winters, Canada also has significant oil reserves in the western province of Alberta, however. This petroleum sits in the country’s controversial oil sands. 

The problem is not a U.S. supply problem, it's the (international) price of oil. There is a problem of oil supply at the global level and it can be solved only if more oil is on the market. 

Expanding oil production and refining takes years and many billions of dollars.  The current high prices may prove to be oil's last hurrah before other energy sources dominate the market.  For that reason the oil industry will make money while it can with what is currently available but will not invest money into significant downstream production increases. 

 

"On oil, even if the Saudis agree to pump more, it is unclear how long they can run fields at full tilt, and whether the world has enough refining capacity to turn extra crude into fuel that can be gobbled up."  https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/07/12/what-does-the-middle-east-offer-america

 

In other words; there are no quick fixes, we are stuck with high prices for now, and there's nothing Biden can do about it.

MBS wants to be cool.  A fist bump is not new, but out there the times are a few decades behind (by conservative estimate).  It's like the high-five with Putin.

 

Should Biden have snubbed the fist bump?  The same people criticizing it now would have declared it a diplomatic disaster either way.

And how come all these guys have such small hands?

 

[did you notice that yellow-haired head taking it all in?]

 

Edited July 16, 20223 yr by bendejo

At least Biden didn't do the sword dance.  But maybe they save that for the Republicans.

 

 

 

I think Biden probably got played as I doubt the Saudis will say yes to his oil request.

Just now, Jingthing said:

I think Biden probably got played as I doubt the Saudis will say yes to his oil request.

I disagree, I think they were given the Mafia choice. The Saudis are desperate to normalize US relations.

34 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I disagree, I think they were given the Mafia choice. The Saudis are desperate to normalize US relations.

On their terms.

I believe old Joe, and Americans in general, need to look in the mirror before casting aspersions on others.