The American president planned to travel to the two countries at the end of June, when he will visit Spain and Germany for international diplomatic meetings, they reminded, citing diplomatic sources.
Joe Biden has decided to postpone his possible trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia for July instead of this month, a prospect that is already controversial, NBC and CNN broadcast on Saturday.
The American president planned to travel to the two countries at the end of June, when he will visit Spain and Germany for international diplomatic meetings, they reminded, citing diplomatic sources.
The White House declined to comment when asked by the French agency.
During the possible trip, Mr. Biden may attend a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a diplomatic forum in which various kingdoms of the region participate, the two American television networks reported.
The trip, even before it is officially organized, is highly controversial.
Mr Biden confirmed on Friday that he intended to travel to Saudi Arabia – although he had pledged to treat the Wahhabi kingdom like a “pariah” – but said it was too early to talk about a meeting with the Crown Prince.
However, the New York Times and the Washington Post have already reported that he intends to see Mohammed bin Salman, whom the US president has so far avoided ostentatiously, saying that his interlocutor in Riyadh is King Salman.
A US intelligence report released by Joe Biden has confirmed that the prince “approved” the assassination of journalist Jamal Kasogi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in February 2021.
The Democrat, who prides himself on playing a leading role in the struggle of democracies against authoritarian regimes, had said he would “adjust” relations with the Sunni kingdom, with an emphasis on human rights.
But a new variable has been added to the diplomatic equation in the meantime, the spike in fuel prices, in part because of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which is frustrating American public opinion in an election year.
Mr Biden’s government wants Riyadh to increase oil production, hoping it will reduce gas station prices.
