The visit is being closely watched by body language and rhetoric.
In the port city of Jeddah on the Red Sea on Saturday, Biden will meet with the heads of state of six Arab Gulf countries, as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit.
Energy prices, which have been high since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, were expected to be on the agenda. But presidential aides moderated expectations that he would leave with an agreement for regional producers to immediately increase supply. More oil would help reduce the high cost of gasoline and alleviate higher U.S. inflation in four decades.
“I suspect you won’t see it for a couple more weeks,” Biden told reporters.
U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted by officials when he arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit: AP
“We believe that any other action that is taken to ensure that there is enough energy to protect the health of the global economy, will be done in the context of OPEC +,” said U.S. Homeland Security Minister Jake Sullivan .
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The OPEC + group, which includes Russia, will meet on August 3.
Biden would also promote peace and push for a more integrated Middle East during the trip. Topics include strengthening a truce in Yemen, “balancing” energy markets and technological cooperation on 5G and 6G telephone networks.
Prior to the visit, Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to all airlines, paving the way for more flights to and from Israel, in what Biden described as a historic and important step towards to building a more stable Middle East.
Biden flew from Israel directly to Jeddah, a move the White House says represents a symbol of the warming of Israeli-Saudi ties. Two years ago, Riyadh made a tacit gesture for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel.
The U.S.-negotiated agreements known as the Abraham Accords set a new axis in the region, where Gulf states share Israel’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and proxy network.
Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shiite Muslim Iran have competed for years for regional influence, but began direct talks last year to try to contain tensions.
Reuters, AP
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