US: Our partnership with Saudi Arabia underpinned the region’s security

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that his country’s partnership with Saudi Arabia “underpinned the region’s security,” a statement issued yesterday said.

The statement was issued to mark the National Day of the Saudi Kingdom.

“On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of its National Day,” Blinken said in the statement.

“The United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have shared eight decades of partnership, cooperation, and mutual friendship.”

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Blinken continued: “The strength of our ties has propelled our two nations’ prosperity and has underpinned the region’s security.”

He also said: “We are expanding our collaboration, including in addressing the challenge of the climate crisis and supporting a strong international response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as fostering a broad global economic recovery.”

“We are working together to address shared security challenges and forge a future of peace and economic prosperity.”

The administration of President Joe Biden has changed its rhetoric about Saudi since taking office. As a candidate, Biden called Riyadh a “pariah state” which had to be punished for killing columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. However, since taking office the US president said he would not punish Saudi for its actions, believing the diplomatic cost is too high.