What the Arabs Expect from Biden's Visit to the Middle East
by Khaled Abu Toameh • July 11, 2022 at 1:30 pm
The Arabs are also saying that they want Biden to understand that, over the years, the Gulf states have changed for the better, and that if he wants to maintain America's strategic partnership with its Arab allies and friends, it is important in this culture that he show respect.
The Arabs are telling Biden: Stay away from the mullahs of Iran; stop the appeasement of the Iranian regime, do not rush into making another nuclear deal that threatens the national security of the entire region and beyond, and please notice that some of the Arab countries have changed markedly and have new leaders who deserve to be involved politely and treated as real allies, not as enemies.
Biden would greatly benefit from working towards strengthening the partnership between the US and the Gulf states to move it to new and promising strategic horizons. — Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, prominent Emirati author and political analyst, open letter to Biden, Al-Ain, February 8, 2022.
Al-Dosseri expressed hope that the rapprochement between the US and the Gulf states would constitute a major blow to Iran, presumably before Iran deals a major blow to the Gulf states.
Iran's mullahs [will] try to obstruct the US-Arab rapprochement by preoccupying the Biden administration with other issues, such as renewed violence and tensions in Iraq or a new war between Israel and Hezbollah. — Mohammed Faisal Al-Dosseri, Saudi author, Al-Ain, July 8, 2022.
The Iranian regime "considered the gradual escalation between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt with the US administration a victory for its policy." — Walid Phares, Lebanese-American professor and author, Independent Arabia, July 5, 2022.
If the Biden administration persists in its policy of appeasement towards Iran, according to these commentators, not only is the US unlikely to see peace and security in our time, but it could end up losing all its friends and allies in the Arab world.
On the eve of US President Joe Biden's first visit to the Middle East since taking office, many Arabs have expressed hope that he will realize the importance of America's partnership with the Gulf states and the immense dangers that Iran poses to their security and stability.
The Arabs are also saying that they want Biden to understand that, over the years, the Gulf states have changed for the better, and that if he wants to maintain America's strategic partnership with its Arab allies and friends, it is important in this culture that he show respect.
The Arabs are telling Biden: Stay away from the mullahs of Iran; stop the appeasement of the Iranian regime, do not rush into making another nuclear deal that threatens the national security of the entire region and beyond, and please notice that some of the Arab countries have changed markedly and have new leaders who deserve to be involved politely and treated as real allies, not as enemies.
