US President Joe Biden wrote an op-ed to the Washington Post, called “Why I’m Going to Saudi Arabia”, explaining the reasons for his anticipated visit to the Middle East, specifically Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
The first answer that comes to mind when reading the article is: because it is Saudi Arabia, the land of the Two Mosques, moderation, and energy pacemaker, and above all else, a country undergoing the most significant and important social transformation.
It is no exaggeration to say that the transformation, under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the architect of the vision and change - is the transformation that will have the greatest impact in the region, politically, economically and socially.
The change overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed cannot be overlooked and has become the best model for those seeking stability and prosperity in the region.
We can now loudly say that there is a model for life in the region and that is the Saudi one.
Returning to Biden’s article, it raises many unavoidable questions. Was it addressed to the Saudis, Americans or even the international community? Such articles are often written when American presidents embark on foreign trips.
The answer to the above question is “no”. The article was addressed to a specific current in the United States, which is the left, not all Americans, not even the Saudis or international community.
Very well. Is that a bad thing?
The answer again is “no”. The article is good, because its writer had previously vowed to shun Saudi Arabia. Now, he is justifying his visit and demonstrating how Saudi Arabia is a strategic country and has been a strategic ally to the US for nearly 80 years. Moreover, the article was written for a publication that is the most hostile to Riyadh.
Yes, moderate voices had emerged in the US demanding that Biden improve relations with Saudi Arabia. But this time, it is the president himself who is explaining the importance of Saudi Arabia and his visit.
The president who vowed during his electoral campaign to shun Saudi Arabia is now defending his visit to Jeddah. The president, not the media or lobbies, is the one explaining the importance of relations between Washington and Riyadh.
Most importantly, Saudi Arabia does not become affected by an article or statements made here and there. This is constant and evident and has been demonstrated by the circumstances.
But here lies a message to meddlers in the region and their pawns. We had heard throughout last year hollow statements and childish gloating speaking of Saudi Arabia’s isolation because of the tensions between Riyadh and Washington.
Now, these childish voices are alleging that Biden is headed to Saudi Arabia to give out orders.
We can only laugh at such suggestions, which remind us that the parties that had incited Biden to take positions against Saudi Arabia are now aggrieved after reading his article.
To summarize, we can say that President Biden is visiting Saudi Arabia because it is pivotal leading and pioneering state. It is a model of reform and stability in the region. Riyadh is a model of rational policy.
Saudi Arabia is a not a nation of empty slogans, but of words because it is simply Saudi Arabia.
