SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Efforts to bring Israel and Saudi Arabia closer aimed at driving away the Iranian Influence on the Region as well as pumping more oil by Gulf countries have directed U.S. President Joe Biden to the Middle East, on Wednesday he landed on Israel’s soil to meet the leaders of that country.
Biden’s visit to the Middle East marks his first trip to the Region during his presidency. Assuring uneasy Israeli and Saudi Arabian officials that he is committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power is one of Biden’s tasks to brief, According to the Associated Press (AP).
“The trip – Biden’s first to the Middle East as president – could produce more steps toward normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, historic foes but also two of America’s strongest allies in the turbulent region,” U.S. official said.
After his three days visit to Israel including the occupied West Bank, he will take a direct flight from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday for talks with Saudi officials and to attend a summit of Gulf allies.
“We’re making steps gradually toward that end,” said an Israeli official. “The fact that President Biden visits Israel, and from here will fly directly to Saudi Arabia encapsulates a lot of the dynamics that have been evolving over the last months.”
The visit coincides with flying gasoline prices in the U.S. which pressured Biden to decline it at home, and damaged his standing inside public opinion rolls. Therefore it is also expected to contact Gulf allies in order to expand oil production so that it helps bring down gasoline prices.
