The Saudi government is signaling its willingness to work together on Yemen and make improvements in human rights in an effort to avoid a crisis with President Biden.
Driving the news: Two events on Wednesday underscored those efforts: prominent women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who led the fight to drive Saudi women, was released from prison; and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan met in Riyadh with the new US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking.
Flashback: On the campaign trail, Biden accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that he would not sell weapons to the Saudis and pledging to “make them the pariah they are.”
- Now in office, Biden has frozen an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, announced the end of US support for offensive operations in Yemen and reversed Donald Trump’s designation of the Yemeni Houthi rebels as a terror group.
The other side: The Saudis have not publicly criticized Biden’s movements and are trying to navigate the new reality through private talks with the government.
- Saudi Deputy Defense Secretary Khalid Bin Salman, the Crown Prince’s brother and confidant, grabbed the only positive line in Biden’s recent foreign policy speech, saying the US would help Saudi Arabia defend itself.
- Meanwhile, bin Farhan welcomed Lenderking’s appointment despite Biden’s move to Yemen. On Wednesday, they discussed ways to find a political solution to the crisis, the Saudi State Department said.
- The release of al-Hathloul after 2.5 years in prison is another indication that the Saudis want to avoid a clash with Biden over human rights. Her arrest had caused outrage around the world
The important step of the crown prince could eventually be Monday’s announcement of major legal and judicial reforms that will establish civil law in the country for the first time alongside Islamic law.
- “The lack of applicable law has led to discrepancies in decisions and a lack of clarity in the principles governing facts and practices. … This was painful for many individuals and families, especially women, allowing some to avoid their responsibilities, “said the Crown Prince.
- The timing of the announcement seems like a signal to the Biden administration.
Worth nothing: Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with bin Farhan on Friday, after he had already spoken with several other Arab foreign ministers. In the call, he stressed the need for the Saudis to take steps on human rights and end the war in Yemen.