US Pres Biden Could Meet Saudi Crown Prince MBS Next Month

Wires have reported this week that the Biden administration is considering a meeting between President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman in June.

• The meeting would be the first between Biden and MbS, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, due to opposition to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashogghi. Biden instead communicates to King Salman. A hard line which has left the administration with limited political capital to push Riyadh to increase oil production.
• Bloomberg has speculated that a meeting may coincide with the June Gulf Cooperation Council summit: 'An administration official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Biden may visit the Middle East for meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional political and economic union, and noted that Saudi Arabia currently holds the presidency of the group.'
• Today at 17:00 ET 22:00 BST: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman will meet with Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman Al Saud at the State Department.
• The meeting will be preceded by a telephonic press briefing from State Department spox Ned Price at 13:45 ET 18:45 BST.