Team Biden Downgrades Saudi Crown Prince To "Recalibrate" Ties

Wednesday, 17 February 2021Newsdesk

US President Joe Biden intends to “recalibrate” the US relationship with Saudi Arabia while emphasizing outreach to King Salman, in a move that signals a downgrade in ties with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler.

New Delhi, 17 February 2021

“We're going to recalibrate our relationship with Saudi Arabia,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday. “Part of that is going back to engagement counterpart-to-counterpart. As per news report of NDTV, the president's counterpart is King Salman.” Instead of engaging primarily with Biden, the crown prince's most appropriate US counterpart is Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, according to a person familiar. While Prince Salman's official role is deputy prime minister and defense minister, he has a vast range of responsibilities as heir to the throne his father, 85, has held since 2015.

Source - NDTV