"Biden, Cornered by Inflation, to Visit Saudi Arabia Next Month to Attempt Improving Relations"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been struggling with soaring inflation, will visit Saudi Arabia, with which relations had deteriorated since his inauguration.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on the 14th (local time) that President Biden is scheduled to visit the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, from the 13th to the 16th of next month.

Press Secretary Jean-Pierre explained, "President Biden will strengthen the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security and prosperity and visit to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)+3 (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan) summit," adding, "He will meet counterparts to advance U.S. security, economic, and diplomatic interests."

Particularly notable in this Middle East tour is the visit to Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration's relations with Saudi Arabia sharply deteriorated shortly after taking office, pointing to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the mastermind behind the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Amid this, the visit is being analyzed as a kind of reconciliation attempt. With inflation worsening due to the recent sharp rise in oil prices and Biden's approval ratings plummeting, it is an urgent situation for the president to receive help such as increased production from the oil-rich country Saudi Arabia. The U.S. inflation, at its highest level in about 41 years, is considered the biggest obstacle for President Biden ahead of the midterm elections in November.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Biden will also meet GCC leaders. The White House stated, "President Biden will discuss a series of bilateral, regional, and global issues in Saudi Arabia," adding, "This includes support for the U.N.-brokered truce in Yemen, which has led to the most peaceful period since the war broke out seven years ago."