Democrats Disagree Over Relationship with Saudi Arabia

US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
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Democrats Disagree Over Relationship with Saudi Arabia

US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)

US Democratic Representatives have tackled the Saudi-US relationship, with Representative Adam Smith warning against launching vague and incomprehensible threats against Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said President Joe Biden is willing to begin reevaluating the US-Saudi ties after the Kingdom and its oil-exporting allies announced production cuts of two million barrels per day.

In statements to CNN, Smith stressed that it is necessary to understand how Saudi Arabia views the situation in Yemen, and Saudi officials felt that the US did not help them while they were being attacked.

He criticized the vague statements on the reassessment of US relations with Saudi Arabia, saying some are demanding a freeze, which he does not understand.

Smith was referring to the statements of the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, who demanded a freeze of cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales.

He criticized the statements of Menendez - who is also a Democrat - saying they have no clear definition of the meaning of the freeze in relations, adding that suspension of arms sales would allow Saudi Arabia to have closer relationships with Russia and China.

Smith explained that if the US suspended the arms deal with Saudi Arabia, it would buy weapons from other countries, such as Russia and China, warning that Beijing might seize the opportunity to enter the largest market in the Middle East, which would constitute a big challenge for Washington.

In another interview with CNN, Kirby said about Saudi Arabia that “the President has been very clear that this is a relationship that the US needs to continue to reevaluate.”

"I think that is where he is, and he is willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship ought to look like going forward," he said.

US observers described the Biden administration as "blundering," noting that it tries to escape crises by blaming other parties.

They indicated that Biden previously blamed the Russian President and the Russian-Ukrainian war for the rise in oil prices last summer, and now he blames Saudi Arabia.

They believe Biden is trying to deflect attention from criticism of his economic policies and push a massive financial aid package in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to the student debt relief, bringing the national debt to unprecedented levels, surpassing $31 trillion.



Southern Yemen Leaders Seek Just Solutions at Upcoming Dialogue Conference in Riyadh

Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
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Southern Yemen Leaders Seek Just Solutions at Upcoming Dialogue Conference in Riyadh

Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)

A consultative meeting on southern Yemen was held in Riyadh on Sunday, marking a return of the southern issue to the forefront of the regional scene. The meeting brought together leaderships, elders and senior figures from the South.

Saudi Arabia has been exerting firm efforts to steer the southern issue clear of political tensions and open conflicts and more towards dialogue that would lead to just solutions that would resolve pending disputes.

Sunday's meeting paves the way for a conference on southern Yemen hosted by Riyadh as part of its efforts to support a comprehensive political solution that tackles the southern issue and boosts security and stability in Yemen and the region.

The meeting was held amid unprecedented complications in Yemen and political, security and economic challenges facing the South. At the upcoming Riyadh conference, the gatherers will aim to reach a common vision on the South that is based on dialogue away from escalation and violence.

A closing statement following the consultative talks said the meeting reflects the South's collective will to reach a "just, secure and sustainable solution to the Southern issue."

A political path based on dialogue is the only way to avert more divisions and internal conflicts in the South, said the statement read by Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member Abou Zaraa Al-Mahrami.

The participants "sensed during their direct meetings with Saudi leaderships and officials clear unconditional support for the legitimate demands of the southerners, starting with their right to reach a comprehensive political solution that ensures their dignity, security and stability," it added.

This path ensures the southerners' right to determine their political fate through a mechanism that does not marginalize any party, it went on to say.

The statement underscored "the southerners' options, including shaping the state and its political future, are their rights and their rights alone."

The upcoming Riyadh dialogue is a "rare historic opportunity" to set the southern issue back on the right path, said the statement, warning against attempts to undermine this opportunity by sparking side conflicts that serve regional parties that want chaos to persist.

Observers have said that the southern issue had been greatly undermined by controversial political and financial practices and by parties placing their own interests above national ones.

Saudi Arabia's sponsorship of the cause has one again returned it to the forefront in Yemen and made it an indispensable part of a comprehensive political solution in the country, they continued.

The statement called on the international community to support the renewed efforts related to the southern issue and to respect the aspirations of the southerners, saying this is critical to any comprehensive and sustainable settlement.

Commenting on the demonstrations that had taken place in the interim capital Aden, the statement said they reflect legitimate popular demands related to the southern issue and difficult living conditions.

The gatherers in Riyadh were also severely critical of Abu Dhabi's role in Yemen. Observers have said that the United Arab Emirates' role in supporting certain parties and not others helped deepen divisions in the South, prolong chaos and obstruct a comprehensive political solution.

The observers noted international reports that detected a similar approach adopted by the UAE in other countries, such as Sudan, Libya and Somalia, where its backing of local factions deepened crises instead of resolving them.

They contrasted this with Saudi Arabia's approach that supports the state, dialogue, stability and development.

The observers warned that the persistence of foreign meddling that deepens divisions in Yemen may force Riyadh to take a firmer stance to protect dialogue, to ensure that counter-terrorism efforts are not undermined and to achieve security and stability in Yemen.


Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

The Saudi leadership extended condolences on Sunday to King of Thailand over the victims of a crane accident that fell onto a train in northeastern Thailand killing tens and injuring several.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent a cable to King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, offering his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the deceased, and the Thai people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, sent a similar cable to the Thai king.

He extended his deepest condolences to the king, the families of the deceased, and the Thai people.


Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Syrian Govt, SDF

People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Syrian Govt, SDF

People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Monday the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces that was reached on Sunday.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry statement hoped the deal would help bolster security and stability and build state institutions to meet the Syrian people's aspirations for development and prosperity.

The statement reiterated the Kingdom's full support for the Syrian government's efforts to boost civil peace and preserve Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the SDF, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade.

The agreement includes dismantling the SDF and having its forces join Syria’s military and security forces, while senior military and civilian officials would be given high-ranking positions in state institutions.

The SDF would have to give up the Raqqa and Deir Ezzor provinces to the Syrian military and government, as well as its border crossings and oil and gas fields.