The visit took place on the third day of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which includes the entry of desperately needed aid to Gaza and the release of about 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners…reports Asian Lite News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured a tunnel in the besieged Gaza Strip and vowed to “eliminate” Hamas.
“We are here in the (Gaza) Strip,” Netanyahu was seen saying on Sunday in a video footage released by his office, wearing an army vest and helmet.
His office said he received a briefing from commanders and toured an underground tunnel belonging to Hamas that was exposed during the war, Xinhua news agency reported.
Netanyahu stated that Israel’s goals for the attack, launched on October 7 following Hamas’ deadly surprise attack, are to “eliminate” Hamas, release about 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas, and “ensure that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel again.”
“We are continuing until the end — until victory. And nothing will stop us,” he said, surrounded by soldiers.
He added, “We are making every effort to bring our hostages back home, and eventually, we will.”
The visit took place on the third day of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which includes the entry of desperately needed aid to Gaza and the release of about 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The weeks of Israeli bombardment in Gaza have reportedly led to the deaths of over 14,000 people, 40 per cent of them children, while thousands remain missing, believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
According to Israeli figures, about 1,200 people were killed, mainly in the initial attack that triggered the war.
With more than 12,300 delegates from over 110 nations, the in-person participation in India’s G20 Presidency is the largest ever hosted by any G20 country so far…reports Asian Lite News
The advance recce teams of the G20 countries visited the Bharat Mandapam convention centre in Delhi on Tuesday as detailed discussions were held on the logistical arrangements.
The G20 Summit which is set to take place next month in the national capital will have distinguished guests for the summit. Taking to Twitter, the Official Account of India’s G20 Presidency wrote, “G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi taking concrete shape! Special briefings organised for Advance Teams from the #G20 and invitee countries & organizations at the iconic Bharat Mandapam.”
“Detailed discussions held on the logistical arrangements as New Delhi gears up to host the distinguished guests for the Summit. #G20India,” the tweet added.
The G20, or Group of Twenty, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s 20 major developed and developing economies, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
With more than 12,300 delegates from over 110 nations, the in-person participation in India’s G20 Presidency is the largest ever hosted by any G20 country so far.
Throughout India’s Presidency, more than 200 meetings in around 60 cities across India are still being planned, making it the widest geographical spread.
Advance recce teams of G20 countries visit the Bharat Mandapam convention centre in Delhi as leaders prepare to land in Delhi next month for the mega summit. Key officials from Russia also present, even tho word from Kremlin awaited if Prez Putin will be in Delhi in Sept. https://t.co/cBLzv9JUM0pic.twitter.com/VrC7IRV7Kz
Moreover, under its G20 Presidency, India announced Srinagar as the venue for the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting which took place from May 22-24.
Among the 15 institutions in the country chosen to host Youth-20 and Civil -20 events which were organised in connection with India’s G-20 Presidency, the University of Kashmir (KU) was one of them. It’s for the first time in the past 70 years that J-K hosted an international event like G-20. (ANI)
Arindam Bagchi further emphasised on the takeaways of PM Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea and Fiji and said that these visits benefit both countries…reports Asian Lite News
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi– while responding to if Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France is aimed at “countering Chinese influence” — said that “India’s relationship with each country stands on its own.”
He also said that there are a number of issues on the agenda ahead of PM Modi’s visit to France next week, which will be disclosed soon. Addressing the press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, the MEA spokesperson said, “The diplomatic advisor of France is here. The visit has been ongoing, his principal interlocutor has actually met NSA Ajit Doval. I am not in a position to share more as the visit is still unfolding”.
Speaking ahead about PM Modi’s visit to France, Bagchi added, “The Prime Minister would be the chief guest at the Bastille Day celebrations. There are a number of issues that are on the agenda generally, and hopefully, we will be able to share more on the issue close to the dates”.
On being asked about if PM Modi’s foreign visits are aimed at countering Chinese influence, the MEA spokesperson said that each particular visit has a certain context, a certain objective and India’s relationship with each country stands on its own.
“This year, the Prime Minister has gone to various places. The three-nation tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Japan. He has recently completed a very successful visit to the US. On the way back, he also did a state visit to Egypt. I would not like to categorise them in relation to China, in any way. Each visit has a certain context, a certain objective, and a certain follow-up mechanism that happens,” Bagchi said.
Speaking in the context of if these visits are to counter Chinese influence, he said, “Our relationships stand on their own with each of these countries and we would certainly like to strengthen and deepen them”.
Arindam Bagchi further emphasised on the takeaways of PM Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea and Fiji and said that these visits benefit both countries.
“The visit to Papua New Guinea, I think is a great way to reach out to the Pacific countries, and it is the first time that an Indian Prime Minister was actually there…it will have a good response and impact in strengthening our relations not just with Papua New Guinea, but with other countries,” Bagchi said.
He added, “With Fiji for example, we had the World Hindi Conference earlier this year. So there are multiple elements of every visit, also the benefit to both countries that accrue from such visits”.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the unprecedented violence that has devastated the lives of people in Manipur has “left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation” while appealing for peace and harmony in the state…reports Asian Lite News
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Manipur’s capital Imphal on Thursday for a two-day visit to the violence-hit state.
He was received by former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Keisham Meghachandra Singh at the Imphal airport. Rahul Gandhi on Thursday morning left from Delhi airport for Imphal.
The Congress leader will be in Manipur on June 29 and 30 during which he is scheduled to visit relief camps and interact with civil society representatives in Imphal and Churachandpur.”Rahul Gandhi will visit relief camps and meet people displaced by the ethnic clashes and also interact with representatives of civil society in Imphal and Churachandpur during the visit,” Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a tweet.
Ethnic clashes broke out in the State nearly two months ago on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). “Rahul Gandhi ji will be visiting Manipur on 29-30 June. He will visit relief camps and interact with civil society representatives in Imphal and Churachandpur during his visit. Manipur has been burning for nearly two months and desperately needs a healing touch so that society can move from conflict to peace. This is a humanitarian tragedy and it is our responsibility to be a force of love, not hate,” said KC Venugopal in a tweet.
Further, speaking about the same, Kh Debabrata, Working President MPCC said, “Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Churachandpur to meet people staying in the relief camps and stay with the affected families. Later he will visit Moirang and will interact with the affected families and Civil Society Organisations. Tomorrow he will meet important people in Imphal and also visit two more relief camps.” Congress has been vocal on Manipur since the outbreak of violence started in the BJP-ruled state.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the unprecedented violence that has devastated the lives of people in Manipur has “left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation” while appealing for peace and harmony in the state.
Ajoy Kumar, AICC Incharge North East on Thursday said that there is total law and order “failure” in the state right now. “Rahul Gandhi and Congress party has always been raising the Manipur issue. Rahul Gandhi believes that the country needs to know the situation of Manipur. There is total law and order failure in the state right now. The double-engine government has become the triple problem government. Rahul Gandhi will be meeting the people of the state and I think the government should take a lesson, after this visit,” Kumar said while speaking to ANI.
Notably, the BJP is under fire from the Opposition and other quarters over the continuing violence in Manipur. The Congress has been making scathing attacks against the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the state of Manipur, over their handling of the violence. The party has already demanded the removal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Earlier on June 24, Home Minister Shah held an all-party meeting in Delhi and gave an assurance of restoring peace in the state, while the opposition parties questioned PM Narendra Modi’s ‘silence’ on the matter at the all-party meeting on the violence in Manipur. BJP national president JP Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and CPI (M) MP John Brittas, among other leaders, were present in the meeting. (ANI)
Convoy stoped by police
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy which was on its way to Manipur’s Churachandpur was on Thursday stopped by local police at a check post near Bishnupur, which is about 20 kilometres from the State capital Imphal.
Gandhi who had landed in Imphal earlier today for a two-day visit was on his way to Churachandpur where he planned to meet people, displaced by the recent clashes, at the relief camps. Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal while speaking to ANI said that the police said that they are not in a “position” to allow the leaders to head forward.
“Rahul Gandhi’s convoy has been stopped by police near Bishnupur. Police say that they are not in a position to allow us. People are standing on both sides of the road to wave to Rahul Gandhi. We are not able to understand why have they stopped us” Venugopal told ANI. Venugopal had earlier had confirmed that during his stay, Rahul Gandhi will engage with civil society representatives and visit relief camps in Imphal and Churachandpur, two of the worst affected places in the State due to violence.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students Union’ issued a statement today condemning the successive governments in the state and said that the Congress Party has a big role to play in it. “.. We believe that the present communal crisis in Manipur is a result of the political blunders that have been committed by the successive governments that have ruled Manipur over time and Congress has a big role to play,” the union said. Addressing a press conference here, the All Manipur Students Union Secretary-General said “In 2012, the Congress party deleted four Gram Panchayats and one Zila Parishad constituency which were part of the Imphal West district from the Manipur Panchayati Raj system and they were allotted to come under the autonomous district council of Kangopi district. It had further enhanced the dreamland of Kuki nation state.” Ethnic clashes broke out in the State nearly two months ago on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).(ANI)
The 68-year-old influential Arab leader graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest on January 26…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Egypt this month, around six months after the two countries elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.
It will be Modi’s first visit to the African nation after he became prime minister in 2014. The sources said the visit is set to boost cooperation in a number of areas including trade, investment, agriculture and defence. There has been no official announcement on PM Modi’s trip to Egypt.
India is keen to further expand ties with Egypt, a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa. It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe.
The ties between the two countries were elevated to the level of strategic partnership during Egyptian President Abdeh Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to India in January.
In the talks, the two leaders decided to take the volume of bilateral trade to USD 12 billion in the next five years from around USD 7 billion at present.
The 68-year-old influential Arab leader graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest on January 26.
The sources said Modi’s visit to Egypt is set to be alongside his trip to the US. Egypt has been traditionally one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent.
More than 450 Indian companies are registered in Egypt, of which around 50 are active in various sectors with a combined investment exceeding USD 3 billion, according to official data.
The defence and strategic ties between India and Egypt has been on an upswing in the last few years. The Indian and Egyptian Armies conducted the first-ever joint exercise in January this year.
Egypt has already shown interest in procuring Tejas light combat aircraft, radars, military helicopters and other platforms from India.
In July last year, the IAF participated in a month-long tactical leadership programme in Egypt with three Su-30 MKI jets and two C-17 transport aircraft. In September, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid a three-day visit to Egypt.
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters during a roadshow in Kochi, Kerala,on Monday, April 24, 2023. (Photo:IANS/Twitter)
“During my Mann Ki Baat radio programme I do get a lot of letters and in the upcoming 100th edition of it, I will again take up the issues of the youth,” said Modi…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking to the youths who had turned up in huge numbers on Monday evening said the BJP will always be with the youth, while the traditional fronts have failed in their duty to lift the youth.
“Over the years a lot of opportunities for the youth in Kerala were lost due to the ideological difference of opinion between two traditional political fronts. While one party gave more importance to develop their party, the other political front gave more emphasis to one family and both of them failed the youths,” said Modi.
“We the BJP are trying hard to improve exports from here, but some here are engaged in gold smuggling and are letting the youth down,” said Modi.
He said this at the SH College ground while speaking to more than 20,000 youths waiting for him.
“The country is progressing rapidly and I want Kerala also to make use of it and be part of it. I want that you the youth should script a new history for Kerala and you should take the lead for it and I am ready to follow you,” said Modi to huge applause.
കാലഹരണപ്പെട്ട രണ്ട് പ്രത്യയശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളാണ് കേരളത്തെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ വികസന യാത്രയ്ക്ക് ഊർജ്ജം പകരാൻ സംസ്ഥാനം ബിജെപിയെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കണം. pic.twitter.com/SNa0bJcx4w
He then spoke about the huge potential that tourism offers to Kerala and asked the youth to make use of it.
“During my Mann Ki Baat radio programme I do get a lot of letters and in the upcoming 100th edition of it, I will again take up the issues of the youth,” said Modi.
Turning to political issues of how the BJP is being perceived, he told the youth that the country is getting divided in the name of caste, creed, religion and the youth should come forward against it.
“Be it in northeast or in Goa, some big communities have appreciated the BJP and in Kerala also there is scope for change in this respect,” added Modi.
Modi arrived at Kochi around 5 p.m. for a two-day trip to Kerala, dressed in typical local style and surprised many when he decided to walk a good part of the 1.8 kms as part of his roadshow.
While the original programme was that he will be in a vehicle, he surprised everyone when he decided to walk down the streets.
Thousands of people were waiting for long and they were taken aback when they saw Modi walking past waving to them.
As he walked the people showered flowers on him.
After walking for about 20 minutes he got into his vehicle but stood and greeted the people waiting on either side of the road and also on top of the buildings.
He reached the venue to a tumultuous welcome and greeted the people on the dais. The star of the moment appeared to be Anil Antony, son of the country’s longest serving Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who had joined the BJP earlier this month.
Seeing Anil, Modi stopped near him, patted him on his shoulder and exchanged pleasantries.
On Tuesday he will reach the state capital to flag off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat train and launch a slew of projects. Around noon he will fly to Surat.
This will be the third annual leaders’ summit of Quad members India, Australia, Japan and the US. Tokyo played host to the last summit in May 2022…reports Reena Bhardwaj
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to India in early March and the details of his visit are being worked out, sources familiar with the deliberations told ANI.
An official said the State Department is eyeing the first week of March for Blinken’s meetings in New Delhi, which would be a run-up to President Joe Biden’s meeting with Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) leaders. “Secretary Blinken will be meeting his Indian counterpart and other officials to lay the groundwork for the upcoming Quad leaders summit in May 2023,” the source added.
This will be the third annual leaders’ summit of Quad members India, Australia, Japan and the US. Tokyo played host to the last summit in May 2022.
“The summit is expected to be held in Sydney and for now, most likely all four leaders will be present in person for the summit. President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will travel to Sydney to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to further cement the Quad cooperation,” another person familiar with the developments told ANI.
While in India, Secretary Blinken will also be attending the Raisina Dialogue, a multilateral conference held in New Delhi on March 2-4.
#NDTVExclusive | "This is going to be a really big year for the US-India relationship… Antony Blinken will come to India in March for the G20 ministerial and the Raisina Dialogue": Donald Lu, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs to NDTV pic.twitter.com/jMc82SibXk
Blinken is expected to address the Raisina dialogue, a conference held annually on geopolitics and geo-economics that the Observer Research Foundation, an independent think tank, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India hosts.
Earlier in November, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India summit in Cambodia. Jaishankar and Blinken discussed the conflict in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region and bilateral ties between India and US.
US Secretary is also expected to travel to China in early February for continued discussions related to one of America’s most complicated and consequential relationships, however, no official announcements have been made as yet. (ANI)
Jaishankar on Thursday highlighted that the “contemporary epicentre of terrorism” remains active and raised concerns about how evidence-backed proposals to blacklist terrorists are put on hold without adequate reason…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said he had a fruitful travel to New York and detailed that during his visit to the US city he had the UN Security Council Ministerial meetings on Reformed Multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism.
“A fruitful #NewYork visit. Chaired UNSC Ministerial meetings on Reformed Multilateralism & Counter Terrorism. Joined unveiling of bust of Bapu at UN premises. Launched Group of Friends for UN Peacekeepers. Hosted a ‘millet lunch’,” the foreign minister tweeted. Jaishankar said he hosted bilaterals with Ireland, Armenia, Japan, Poland, the US, UK and the UAE.
Jaishankar on Thursday highlighted that the “contemporary epicentre of terrorism” remains active and raised concerns about how evidence-backed proposals to blacklist terrorists are put on hold without adequate reason.
Speaking at the ‘UNSC Briefing: Global Counterterrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward’, Jaishankar took veiled digs at Pakistan for cross-border terrorism against India and at China for blocking the black-listing of Pakistan-based terrorists at the United Nations. He said old habits and established networks are still alive, especially in South Asia and the contemporary epicentre of terrorism remains very much alive and active, “whatever gloss may be applied to minimize unpleasant realities”.
Delivering his address at the launch of the Group of Friends on Accountability for Crimes against UN Peacekeepers, Jaishankar said UN Peacekeeping today has become more challenging than ever before. “Today’s peacekeeper is not mandated to keep the peace but to take on robust mandates in extremely hostile conflict zones. The involvement of armed groups, terrorists and transnational organized crime has adversely impacted their operations,” he said.
The minister on Thursday welcomed United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other UNSC member states for a millets-based luncheon in New York. “Delighted to welcome UNSG @antonioguterres and UNSC members for a ‘millet lunch’ in New York today,” Jaishankar tweeted.
“As we head into International Year of Millets 2023, a strong message for their greater production, consumption and promotion would help global food security and enhance sustainability in agriculture,” he said in another tweet.
The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). Spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront of celebrating the IYM. (ANI)
Hailing the relationship between the two countries, the Ambassador said that he is proud of cooperation between the two nations and that the friendship will continue for many years to come…reports Asian Lite News
Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon expressed hope that Benjamin Netanyahu will visit India after he becomes the nation’s Prime Minister. He stated that Netanyahu’s visit will boost the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Israel. “We are working on an FTA (with India) for a long time now. When Dr Jaishankar was in Israel, he spoke about the need to go forward. We are hoping to have a visit of our Prime Minister next year,” Gilon said.
He further added, “PM Netanyahu is going to make it to the office soon probably and then we will try and work with him. I am sure he has the wish because of the friendship with PM Modi and his high admiration for India, and I believe that if the PM will be coming, it will be a boost for the negotiation of the FTA.”
He highlighted that the Israeli Prime Minister will first visit the United Arab Emirates to emphasize the importance of change in the Middle East Abraham Accords. Gilon emphasised that the Middle East is setting aside the Palestinian issue and focusing on its ties with Israel.
“I believe that he already mentioned his intention of going to the UAE first in order to emphasize the importance of change in the Middle East Abraham Accords. The fact that the landscape of the Middle East has really changed in the last few years. India is part of it because I believe that the idea of setting aside the Palestinian issue and concentrating on the bilateral relationship with Israel,” Naor Gilon said.
Gilon further said, “It is not that the Palestinian issue is gone but it’s not the thing that will define our bilateral relations. That’s what India did and that’s what other countries in the Middle East are doing today. Secondly, because of I2U2, India coming into trilateral cooperation because of its close relationship with from UAE to Israel. So, I think that visit is important and after that hopefully, there will be a visit to India.”
The UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco established official ties with Israel as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. Notably, Netanyahu’s Likud Party and its ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners secured a majority of seats in the Knesset or parliament in elections held on November 1.
Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu will have until December 21 to form a new government after getting a 10-day extension on Friday. Speaking about the I2U2 summit, Naor Gilon said that there is a plan for meeting in the next year’s first quarter and then we will see if there is a need for the summit.
“Last time it was done virtually when President Biden was in Israel, there is already for the first quarter of the next year planned meeting of the working level together with companies and everything and after that, we will see if there is the need for the summit. First of all, our efforts are into implementing the two projects that we already took upon ourselves in food security and clean energy and we are already working and putting into the pipeline new projects in order to create moment-to-moment continuity,” said Gilon.
Hailing the relationship between the two countries, the Ambassador said that he is proud of cooperation between the two nations and that the friendship will continue for many years to come.
“The friendship and support of India and Israel started many years ago and will continue for many years to come. We are close in many fields. I am proud of the cooperation we are having and I am more proud of the cooperation we will be doing in the future,” Gilon said. (ANI)
Biden’s first meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince had become the most awaited moment of the trip with US officials constantly confronted with questions about it…reports Asian Lite News
US President Joe Biden ended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans “pariah” status with a fist-bump when they met for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.
Biden switched to a full handshake with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, putting the fist-bump in perspective.
Biden’s first meeting with MSB, as the crown prince is popularly known, has become the most anticipated moment of his first visit to West Asia (Middle East), which took him first to Israel and Palestine and then Saudi Arabia, an ally that has been put on ice by the Biden administration over MSB’s role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident who lived and worked in the US.
As a candidate for the White House, Biden had famously vowed to turn Saudi Arabia into a global “pariah” for the Khashoggi murder.
That all ended on Friday.
Pictures of the fist-bump and MBS receiving the American leader were promptly put out by the Saudi government keen to demonstrate the Crown Prince’s repaired relationship with the US.
But Biden could raise the killing in his meetings with the Saudis.
“I have never been quiet about talking about human rights,” Biden said at a press conference in Israel. When pressed, he said that he always brings up human rights, but said that his “position on Khashoggi is so clear — if anyone doesn’t understand it in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, they haven’t been around for a while.”
Biden’s first meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince had become the most awaited moment of the trip with US officials constantly confronted with questions about it.
The American leader had also faced severe criticism for agreeing to visit Saudi Arabia and meeting the Crown Prince. He pushed back in an OpEd in The Washington Post, saying, “I know that there are many who disagree with my decision to travel to Saudi Arabia. My views on human rights are clear and long-standing, and fundamental freedoms are always on the agenda when I travel abroad, as they will be during this trip, just as they will be in Israel and the West Bank.”
He had added: “From the start, my aim was to reorient but not rupture relations with a country that’s been a strategic partner for 80 years.”
Upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, Biden mimes holding up his half of a ceremonial saw—to bury the memory of murdered Washington Post columnist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi. pic.twitter.com/srtZ8pMB8U
Biden will start his Saudi visit with bilateral meetings with Saudi officials, one of which is underway now. He will have bilateral engagements Saturday with the leadership of Egypt, the UAE, and Iraq, and then participate in the GCC+3 Summit. He is expected to deliver a major policy speech at the summit on his vision and strategy for West Asia.
Biden’ intent for the trip is on “ensuring that there is not a vacuum in the Middle East for China and Russia to fill”, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reports on the way to Jeddah, adding, “American leadership and an American engagement will be a feature of US policy in this region, and that we intend to play a critical role in this strategically vital region on an ongoing basis.”
