The administration of US President Joe Biden has finally recognised the central role of Saudi leadership in the Middle East and the world, evidenced in Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Jeddah. Mr Blinken also dedicated three days to important meetings in Riyadh, involving dozens of ministers. Additionally, he engaged in lengthy discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.
The visit was a significant development, representing a profound shift in the mindset of both the administration and the Democratic Party, which has in recent times harboured what appeared to be hostility towards Saudi Arabia.
Mr Blinken’s visit underscored the administration's adoption of a pragmatic approach, departing from the customary homilies often delivered by the US to the kingdom. The new direction, it seems, encompasses not only discussions on energy prices and security, but also greater consensus on combatting global violent extremism, extending beyond the traditional focus on counterterrorism.
At a joint press conference with Mr Blinken, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke boldly, saying it is unfortunate that developed countries continue to refuse to retrieve their citizens from conflict zones and instead leave that burden on the countries most affected by terrorism. Later, following a ministerial meeting in Riyadh of the international coalition against ISIS, he emphasised the importance of confronting terrorist organisations in Afghanistan, a country from which US troops recently withdrew.
Blinken’s visit underscored the administration's adoption of a pragmatic approach
A statement issued after a meeting of GCC foreign ministers with Mr Blinken repeated the importance of confronting violent extremism and terrorism “across the world”, reflecting the GCC’s eagerness to reject the notion that terrorism is a problem related only to this region.
Mr Blinken was eager to convey during his time in the Gulf the US’s commitment to the security of the region and its strategic security partnership with GCC. He emphasised Washington’s recognition of the crucial role played by Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, in the global economy and in addressing international crises.
It is no secret that energy is a critical matter, and the Biden administration is keen on preventing a surge in oil prices during the election cycle. However, this issue is complex, as Saudi Arabia has no obligation to comply automatically with the demands of the Biden administration when it comes to oil production. Its priority is stability of prices.
But disagreements on oil are largely separate from the other strategic and security interests the two countries share. Riyadh and Washington concur that their security relationship should not be undermined or subject to bargaining from other nations. For the US, this may most acutely mean concern over a potential relationship with China.
China's direct involvement in restoring Saudi-Iranian relations and assuming the role of guarantor for their understandings has alerted the Biden administration to its own political inertia in the region, particularly after it excluded the Gulf states from the nuclear negotiations with Iran as if it would not be a matter of concern for them.
The Biden administration must know that not rectifying past mistakes and recognising that a partnership with Riyadh is indispensable may leave Washington at a disadvantage.
There continues to exist a significant disparity between American and Saudi perspectives in one particularly important area, which is the Palestine-Israel conflict. The Biden administration aims to accomplish a Saudi-Israeli peace agreement that it could bill as having surpassed even the achievements of the Trump administration's Abraham Accords, which facilitated agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. While Saudi Arabia does not object to signing a regional peace agreement with Israel, however, it would be under the conditions of a two-state solution and a resolution to the status of Jerusalem.
But there have been voices in Washington that have sought to reject the concept of a two-state solution wand downplay the Arab Peace Initiative, a two-decade-old proposal to end the conflict, as the basis for any peace agreement.
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In this context, the joint statement between the GCC foreign ministers and Mr Blinken stood out for its emphasis on a two-state solution. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a just, permanent, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, based on the two-state solution and the 1967 borders, with land swaps in accordance with internationally recognised standards and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Remarkably, the joint statement also officially endorsed Arab efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, which have clarified the Gulf's vision for relations with Syria. The statement placed strong emphasis on a political solution "in accordance with international humanitarian law, as outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 of 2015". Notably, the statement welcomed the Arab step-by-step approach to resolving the crisis in line with Resolution 2254, and expressed support for the US-led coalition forces working to defeat ISIS in Syria.
Iran also had a presence in the discussions, as explicitly mentioned in the statement. It highlighted the joint commitment of the US and GCC countries to confront any acts of aggression or illegality that pose a threat to maritime routes, international trade and Gulf oil facilities, with specific reference to Iran. The resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran was also met with approval.
The atmosphere surrounding Mr Blinken's visit to Jeddah and the subsequent meetings in Riyadh mark a significant departure from the tone that has characterised the US-Saudi relationship in recent years. The Biden administration has acknowledged that Saudi Arabia has emerged as an influential regional and international actor, requiring a re-evaluation and reset of the political discourse between the two nations. There is no substitute for Saudi Arabia's indispensable role in resolving both regional and international challenges, and dismissing Saudi positions is not an option.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Schedule:
Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Rating: 3/5
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