US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, that he stood by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

“He’s the leader of Saudi Arabia. They’ve been a very good ally,” Trump said in an interview in the Oval Office.

Asked by Reuters if standing by the kingdom meant standing by the Crown Prince, Trump responded: “Well, ..., it certainly does.”

Trump reiterated on Tuesday that the “crown prince vehemently denies” involvement in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

The US Administration had imposed sanctions targeting 17 Saudis for their alleged role in the killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

As the Senate considers this week a joint resolution on the killing, something that the president would have to sign or veto if passed by Congress, Trump said he would meet with senators.

“And I really hope that people aren’t going to suggest that we should not take hundreds of billions of dollars that they’re going to siphon off to Russia and to China,” Trump said.

“Well, I’m much more open to Yemen because frankly, I hate to see what’s going on in Yemen,” Trump said. “But it takes two to tango. I’d want to see Iran pull out of Yemen too. Because - and I think they will.”

Trump’ statements come amid calls by a limited number of senators, with no interaction within the Senate, to adopt a resolution seeking to directly interfere in the internal affairs of a close American ally in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia.

This is raising questions about at least some of these senators’ obsession with Saudi Arabia and how that can prove to be counterproductive, according to US experts.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, is leading a campaign to discredit Saudi Arabia and its high ranked officials with regards to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

He joined calls by the Iran- and Qatar-friendly Republican Senator Bob Corker — in pressuring Riyadh’s internal hierarchy. However, those watching the proceedings closely say Graham and his cohorts appear once again to have failed to learn the lessons from past mistakes, according to many US commentators. (MORE HERE).

with Reuters

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:51 - GMT 06:51