Behind Trump’s Defence of Saudi Crown Prince, A Deeper US Shift On Human Rights
In a recent visit of the Saudi crown to the US, Trump supported Prince Mohammad bin sumelan, dismissing the US intelligence finding that linked the crown to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Experts say it’s framing Saudi Arabia as a vital ally of the United States, especially regarding oil supply stability. There are arms sales, counterterrorism agreements, and contracts between the two countries.
The Times of Israel says that Trump’s support for the Saudi crown shows that he prioritises the economics and political ties over human rights abuses and accountability. Despite global outrage, Trump publicly shielded the crown, signalling that the Saudi-US partnership will continue in the long run.
Trump’s move has sparked a global debate over US values vs. interests. Analysts say the United States has always prioritized moral interests over political ones; will it continue to do so?
However, the most prominent critic, The Times of Israel, ignores another fact. Trump keeps supporting Israel despite its unjustified attacks on Palestinian citizens.
Trump even shifted the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2017. This was the time when the world was noticing Israel as a peace breaker and a human rights violator.
Then how can they raise questions about Trump’s support for the Saudi crown? In talking to the media, Trump stated, “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.” He further added, “He knew nothing.”
In a question’s response, Trump said, “You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about… things happen.” He praised the crown, saying, “What the Saudi royal has done is ‘incredible in terms of human rights’.[He is] a great ally.”
On the other hand, the Saudi crown stated, “Khashoggi’s killing was ‘painful’ for his country.” However, the US intelligence report says that the crown himself approved an operation in Turkey to kill or capture the journalist. Senator Lindsey Graham said the U.S. should “sanction the hell out of Saudi Arabia.”
After Trump’s second entrance to the white house, he has made several unexpected decisions. He is constantly upending the world with the Gaza peace plan, like a big announcement, and showing interest in the Ukraine-Russia war. He keeps praising Pakistan while signing agreements with India. He shifted the cryptocurrency wave from down to up, calling it a “war on crypto” and casting crypto as “good for the dollar”.
He is unexpected and surprising. He blocked TikTok in the US, and then his financial and political allies bought the US operating tiktok. He speaks against China, met with XI, and says it was fantastic. We have to wait and see where US policy will shift until the end of Trump’s second term.
