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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud is visiting the White Home. Greeted with navy planes and a procession, he and Trump have been pleasant with one another as they spoke to reporters within the Oval Workplace.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is on the White Home at present, and he acquired a heat welcome from President Trump. The lads touted a deal between the 2 international locations. NPR White Home correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is on the White Home with extra. Hello there.
DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN, BYLINE: Hey, Juana.
SUMMERS: So Danielle, I do know that there’s a complete lot of ceremony across the crown prince’s arrival, and this night, there’s a black-tie dinner. What does all of this inform us about the best way that President Trump is approaching this go to?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, it reveals very clearly that Trump is admittedly excited concerning the go to. In spite of everything, he is welcomed many international leaders this yr, and he would not give all of them swanky dinners. So the tone is celebratory. Already at present, within the Oval Workplace with the Crown Prince, Trump was emphasizing potential Saudi investments within the U.S. and actually appeared enthusiastic about that. So we should always anticipate numerous funding discuss. In reality, there’s an occasion tomorrow known as the U.S.-Saudi Funding Discussion board on the Kennedy Heart, and it is set to incorporate audio system from tech, oil and drugs pharma corporations. And so it is actually meant to telegraph that the Saudi-U.S. partnership goes to be nice for enterprise.
SUMMERS: Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come below fireplace for human rights abuses. I am considering particularly of the killing of Washington Publish journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. And that did come up throughout at present’s presser. Let’s hear.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So far as this gentleman is anxious, he is finished an exceptional job. You are mentioning anyone that was extraordinarily controversial. Lots of people did not like that gentleman that you just’re speaking about. Whether or not you want him or did not like him, issues occurred, however he knew nothing about it. And we will go away it at that. You do not have to embarrass our visitor by asking a query like that.
SUMMERS: And I will notice that U.S. intelligence has discovered that Mohammed bin Salman did approve the operation to kill Khashoggi. Nevertheless, we should always say that the crown prince does deny having a job. Inform us extra about that trade at present.
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, even earlier than Khashoggi got here up, firstly of the assembly, Trump praised the crown prince on his human rights document. After which, when a reporter requested about Khashoggi, as you heard, President Trump acquired indignant and, shockingly, did not condemn the killing and dismemberment of a journalist from an American information outlet. Moderately, Trump known as Khashoggi, who was Saudi, controversial. Now, the crown prince did reply after that, and he stated the killing was a painful incident and that his nation has taken steps to verify nothing like that may ever occur once more.
SUMMERS: Proper. OK. We all know that economics and safety, they’re each high priorities right here. What offers are the U.S. and Saudi Arabia hoping to get out of this go to?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, let’s begin with what Saudi Arabia desires. That nation desires to purchase superior F-35 jets, which Trump has stated this week the U.S. will promote to them. Saudi Arabia additionally desires entry to superior AI chips, and so they need U.S. help on creating nuclear energy, though, at present in that assembly, Trump stated nuclear cooperation is not pressing proper now. However lastly, the Saudis are on the lookout for a protection pact. They need an settlement that the U.S. would assist defend their nation in the event that they have been attacked.
SUMMERS: And what about what the U.S. desires?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, the crown prince has already stated earlier this yr that his nation would do $600 billion in investments within the U.S. As we speak, he stated there might be much more investments than that, which Trump acquired fairly enthusiastic about. But additionally, Trump goes to be pushing Saudi Arabia to signal on to the Abraham Accords, which is a collection of diplomatic offers he brokered in his first time period between Israel and different Arab international locations. However there is a fairly important hurdle to that taking place. As we speak, Mohammed bin Salman stated he desires to be a part of the Abraham Accords but in addition desires a two-state resolution. Now, Benjamin Netanyahu, the chief of Israel, has stated there’ll by no means be a Palestinian state.
SUMMERS: Final thing and rapidly, Danielle, President Trump was additionally requested at present about his household’s enterprise dealings in Saudi Arabia. How did he reply?
KURTZLEBEN: Effectively, he dismissed any issues about conflicts of curiosity. He stated he is not concerned within the household enterprise proper now, however the ties between the Trump group and Saudi Arabia are nonetheless there. For instance, Trump-branded properties are being developed in Saudi Arabia.
SUMMERS: NPR White Home correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, thanks.
KURTZLEBEN: Thanks.
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