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Washington – After the opening of the Strategic Dialogue session between the United States and Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to join the “changing dynamics” in the region by recognizing Israel after the normalization movements of two other Arab Gulf states.
Bahrain, which closely coordinates its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates signed the “Abraham Accords” with Israel on September 15 at the White House.
Meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Washington, Pompeo said the agreement “contributed greatly to our shared goals for regional peace and security.”
“They reflect a changing dynamic in the region, one in which countries correctly recognize the need for regional cooperation to counter Iranian influence and generate prosperity,” Pompeo said.
“We hope that Saudi Arabia will also consider normalizing its relations. We want to thank them for the help they have had so far in the success of the Abrahamic Accords. “
US President Donald Trump has highlighted Arab normalization with Israel as a major achievement, as he seeks another term in the Nov. 3 elections, with his evangelical Christian base widely supporting the Jewish state.
Saudi Arabia has indicated that it will proceed at its own pace and made normalization with Israel conditional on guaranteeing Palestinian rights under the Arab Peace Plan.
Trump said last month that he also expected Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel “at the right time.”
Both sides have underlined their determination to join forces against Iran.
Prince Faisal, who attended the opening session of the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Saudi Arabia in Washington, warned against Tehran’s behavior in the region.
“The Iranian regime continues to provide financial and material support to terrorist groups, including in Yemen, where the Houthis have launched 300 Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones towards the Kingdom.”
He noted that “Iran’s development of its nuclear and ballistic missile program represents a danger to the region and the world.”
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of security cooperation between the two countries. “Our strong partnership (with the United States) is vital in confronting the forces of extremism and terrorism that threaten our security and prosperity,” added Prince Faisal.
Pompeo said the United States “supports a robust arms sales program to Saudi Arabia,” and said the effort helps “protect its citizens and maintain American jobs.”
In a controversial move, Pompeo had cited the crisis with Iran last year to bypass Congress and advance $ 8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Pompeo also announced Wednesday that the United States had acquired a 26-acre (10.5-hectare) site to build a new United States embassy in Riyadh.
In addition to work on American missions in Jeddah and Dhahran, the United States is spending more than a billion dollars on diplomatic construction in the kingdom, Pompeo said.
According to the US State Department, the dialogue focused on “shared commitments to promote regional security and prosperity, economic development, and people-to-people exchanges that have underpinned our bilateral relationship since the pivotal meeting between President Roosevelt. and King Abdulaziz aboard the USS Quincy 75 years ago. “
