As reported by Reuters, US President Donald Trump has sent US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Salman regarding the details of the missing journalist.
Key highlights
President Trump, in an oddly diplomatic and measured response to the possible slaying of a US resident in the Saudi embassy in Turkey, floated the idea of “rogue killers” being responsible for the death/disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, even as it is being reported that Saudi Arabia, who initially denied any knowledge or involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance, is preparing to blame the journalist’s death on a ‘botched interrogation’.
President Trump has been striving to carefully cultivate a positive relationship with Saudi Arabia during his tenure as US president, and the Saudi kingdom’s frequent appearance on headlines and media outlets for blatant human rights violations and acts of outright suppression are wreaking havoc on Trump’s efforts to “buddy up” with the Saudi king.
Western countries have begun to flash political warning signs that they will begin to take action on Saudi Arabia regarding its crushing stance on activists and dissidents, with major firms and corporations abandoning major plans as the Saudi kingdom becomes demonized in the mainstream media, and Saudi Arabia’s stance has been to double down, threatening swift economic action against the US, including intentionally constraining oil production in an effort to further drive up oil prices, should the White House make any moves to punish Saudi Arabia.
A pro-government Turkish daily published preliminary evidence last week from investigators who it said had identified a 15-member Saudi intelligence team that arrived in Istanbul on diplomatic passports hours before Khashoggi disappeared. Saudi Arabia has responded to Western statements by saying it would retaliate against any pressure or economic sanctions “with greater action,” and Arab allies rallied to support it. – Reuters
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