Biden’s national security adviser indicates more Israel-Saudi announcements during Jeddah visit

JEDDAH — US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicates that additional announcements vis-à-vis Israel-Saudi ties will be announced during President Joe Biden’s visit to Jeddah.

“We will have things to say on issues related to promoting peace in the region,” Sullivan tells reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Jeddah from Israel.

However, he declines to say whether direct flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia will be announced on the president’s trip, saying he would leave it up to Riyadh to reveal as it is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

He jokes with reporters that they need not get ahead of themselves, as the Saudi agreement on Thursday to allow Israeli flights to use its airspace is “cool” in its own right.

Sullivan says that the announcement from Riyadh was the first step toward normalization with Israel, “but it’s a big step.”

Asked whether Biden would raise the recently passed Iraqi law outlawing normalization with Israel in his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Sullivan says the sit-down would focus primarily on more traditional issues related to US-Iraq relations and could not speculate as to whether the legislation would also be discussed.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House, July 11, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)