“I believe we can reach an agreement, which will be a historic opportunity for the two countries, but also for the wider region,” said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo .
Washington and Riyadh have made “satisfactory progress” in talks on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Thursday, without giving a timetable for a deal.
“I believe we can reach an agreement, which will be a historic opportunity for the two countries, but also for the wider region,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo.
Talks on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel had frozen following the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent pounding of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. But the debate has heated up in recent weeks.
Along with efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, the Biden administration is pursuing an agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Riyadh wants this deal to include the creation of an independent Palestinian state. At the same time, he aspires to conclude a defense agreement with the US and to secure Washington’s support for his nuclear program. Anthony Blinken discussed these issues with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Jeddah on Wednesday.
“We had a very good discussion about the work we have been doing for many months on normalization (of relations with Israel) and that work is moving forward. We are still making good progress,” said the head of US diplomacy.
A possible defense deal that would give Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, military protection from the US in exchange for the kingdom’s normalization of relations with Israel, will change the balance in the Middle East: forcing two old enemies to give hands and strengthening Riyadh’s ties with Washington at a time when China is increasing its presence in the region.
An obstacle to reaching an agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is the intransigence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the creation of a Palestinian state. Blinken did not say how Netanyahu’s objections could be overcome, but stressed that perpetuating the vicious cycle of violence “only benefits Iran.”
Source :Skai
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