Biden Postpones Saudi Arabia and Israel Visits to July

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] U.S. President Joe Biden has postponed his previously expected visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel, originally scheduled for the end of this month, to July.

On the 4th (local time), CNN cited multiple White House and Israeli officials, reporting that President Biden plans a Middle East tour next month. A senior U.S. administration official told NBC News, "President Biden is scheduled to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia for the GCC+3 summit," adding, "The dates will be announced once finalized."

The tour was expected to be added to President Biden’s planned visits to Germany and Spain this month. The White House has not officially confirmed the details. The postponement is reportedly due to a tight European tour schedule and the need for more preparation time.

If President Biden visits Saudi Arabia and Israel in July, it will be his first visit since taking office. Earlier, on the 3rd, regarding the Saudi Arabia visit, he stated that there were no concrete plans yet but said, "I have sought cooperation on ways to achieve more peace and stability in the Middle East, and there is a possibility of meeting with Arab countries including Israel and Saudi Arabia."

The visit to Saudi Arabia is also interpreted as a shift from his previously critical stance on the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Biden had taken a tough position on the incident, vowing to make Saudi Arabia pay a price and effectively 'ostracize' the kingdom.

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