ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, likely to push for normalization of ties with Israel, on the same day Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Riyadh after a seven year closure.
The trip also comes amid rocky relations with the Gulf country over oil production cuts, and a day after Blinken called for the normalization of relations with Israel.
The longstanding alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia has been strained over the past years by disagreements over Iran policies, oil production, and Washington’s criticism of Riyadh’s human rights record.
Also on Tuesday, Tehran will reopen its embassy in Riyadh after a seven year closure. Tehran’s diplomatic mission in Riyadh will be headed by Alireza Enayati, who previously served as the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait.
Blinken’s visit to the world’s largest oil exporter comes after Saudi Arabia said at the OPEC+ meeting that it would further cut oil output, despite calls from the US for production to increase in order to stabilize prices.
The trip is likely aimed at pushing back Chinese influence in the Middle East, which was significantly expanded when Beijing brokered an agreement to restore diplomatic ties between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia in March.
The secretary of state is also expected to push for the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The initiative was launched under the Abraham Accords brokered by former president Donald Trump, resulting in countries including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize ties with Israel. Riyadh has remained reluctant to follow suit, demanding that Israel recognize an independent Palestinian state.
Before departing for Riyadh on Monday, Blinken spoke at the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and said the normalization of ties was in Washington’s security interests.
Iran and Israel are bitter foes, with Israel considering Iran as its greatest enemy, citing its nuclear program, military activities, and support for hostile militant groups. The recent restoration of ties between Tehran and Riyadh is likely to make Saudi-Israel normalization difficult.
