Saudi’s crown prince snubbed the US Secretary of State by making him wait hours for a gathering earlier than suspending it, report says

• Mohammed bin Salman reportedly stored Antony Blinken ready for hours for a gathering, then did not present, a report stated.

• It got here as Blinken, the US secretary of state, tried to steer the Saudi ruler to sentence the Hamas terror assaults.

• Arab nations have criticized Israel’s response to the Hamas assaults.

Saudi Arabia’s ruler stored US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, ready for hours for a gathering, then did not present up till the subsequent day, in an astonishing snub to the US’ prime diplomat, The Washington Post said. 

Within the wake of the Hamas terror assaults in Israel, Blinken final week visited a number of US allies within the Center East in a bid to rally them across the US’ place, together with Mohamed bin Salman. 

The core aim of the journey was to steer the leaders to sentence Hamas’ brutal violence, and try to tamp down unrest of their nations sparked by the brand new combating.

However Blinken reportedly obtained a chilly reception in Riyadh, the place key variations between the US and Saudis emerged.

Blinken had anticipated to fulfill Mohamed bin Salman within the night after touching down on Saturday, however was stored ready for hours, with the crown prince finally exhibiting up the subsequent morning, the report stated.

Within the assembly, the crown prince reportedly known as for Israel to halt navy operations “that claimed the lives of harmless folks,” after Israel bombarded the densely populated Gaza strip, and imposed a blockade on meals, gasoline, and different provides. He additionally reportedly known as for the battle to be de-escalated.

The Saudi place is in distinction to that taken by the Biden administration. The US president has backed Israel’s bid to get rid of Hamas within the wake of the phobia assaults, however has known as for civilian lives to be protected.

Blinken’s makes an attempt to search out widespread floor with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, one other US regional ally, additionally met with little success, the report says.

There have been indicators in latest weeks that Saudi Arabia and Israel have been on the verge of a historic settlement, that may’ve seen relations between them normalized. Analysts believe that among Hamas’ core goals in launching the October 7 assaults was ruining the talks.

Saudi Arabia has lengthy been among the many US’ key regional allies, however lately its ruler has sought to steer a extra impartial course for the dominion, forming nearer ties with US rival China. Last year, a diplomatic spat erupted when the Saudis snubbed the Biden administration and refused to increase oil manufacturing.

Learn the unique article on Business Insider