Arent the controversial 4 day trip to the middle east. It started in israel and ended in saudi arabia, where he met several, our leaders. Id and says he wanted to reach and be influenced by china, russia or iran. Let me stay clearly if United States is going to remain active, engage partner in the middle east. As a world grows more competitive than the challenges we face more complex zone, becoming clear to me that how closely in or woven americas interests are with the successes. Melisha will not walk away and leave a vacuum to re filled by china. Russia were around the same event. Saudi crown prince. Mom had been sarmens stress, the importance of cooperation with the u. S. He also said, adopting unrealistic policies on energy will lead to inflation. A vigil has been held in july and get to remember those who died in recent political unrest caused by a roger box. It was false to resign this weekend of president. After months of Anti Government protests, the parliament has become the process of choosing the next president. Extreme temperatures of course wildfire this spread across western europe and north africa. Out of control blazes for thousands of people from their homes and hundreds of died from heat related causes. Brushes, military is 5 missiles and shells across ukraine, also declaring its plans to ramp up a tax in the grain officials, at least 17 civilians have been killed, including 3 in the northeast in the city of 2 who lives in sudan at least 33 people have been killed and over 100, others injured during days of violence between rival tribes. The government has declared an overnight curfew in 2 towns and boon. All state members of the house are in voter, ethnic groups began fighting after a fama was killed. Earlier this week, resident say the violence hasnt stopped around 1000 hunger is withheld a protest against find most of it to or bomb salacious in a series of demonstrations against the government. The process began after a major tax on Small Businesses of honest and powerful, more energetic cases. Discontent of inflation is posing a major challenge to his rules. And the headlines one use here on algebra, right off the inside story, caesar by ah. Resetting relations with royalty. The u. S. President has visited a kingdom he wants promised to make a pariah. Joe biden says his trip to saudi arabia is worth the political cost. But what does he hope to gain . And does this visit paved the way to a new partnership with this region . This is inside store. Ah. Hello, welcome to the program. Im burnetts me 3 years ago, joe biden threatened to make saudi arabia pay the price for the killing of a journalist. Now is the u. S. President . Hes on the charm offensive. Biden needs the kingdom to pump more oil to take the pressure of fuel prices. He is declared that significant business was accomplished in jetta on friday. But a positive developments from those meetings have been overshadowed by criticism, a bidens visit to the kingdom and his interactions with the crown prince. Our white house correspondent, kimberly halgert reports. Us President Joe Biden arrived in saudi arabia to a subdued reception. That may have been because of his past comments about the kingdom we would run in fact make them pay the price and make them in fact, the pariah that they are applied. She made as a president ial candidate after a cia report suggested the Saudi Crown Prince mohammed bin solomon may have ordered the 2018 killing of journalists, shemelle could shout g. The president s goal is to reset relations and convince the kingdom to pump or to bring down fuel prices in the United States. Im doing all i can to increase the supplier for the United States of america, which i expect to happen. But strain ties have made that a challenge, evident is biting. Arrived at the saudi palace, offering the crown prince just a fist bump, a moment not well receive back in the United States. Cuz shock geez, publisher. Fred ryan, of the washington post, calling it shameful. Delivering m b as the redemption he was desperately seeking and catch shaggy fiance warning biden, that the blood of any future victim will be on his hands. Im sure she feels her way. I was straightforward. Back then i was straight forward to day, basically said that he, he, he was not personally responsible for life, i indicated, was earlier and bidens meeting with the crown prince. The press confronted both man drove off with this was the response and the crown prince. He appeared to smirk a serious question left unanswered with reporters. Then i should out. Kimberly help hit al jazeera saudi arabia and the u. S. Have a long standing strategic partnership. It dates back to 1945 when the u. S. Agreed to provide security to saudi rulers in exchange for access to oil reserves. In 1973 in the israel palestine war re add imposed an oil embargo on countries backing israel, including the u. S. In the ninetys, during the gulf war against Saddam Hussein sonia served as a base for hundreds of thousands of american troops. But the 911 attacks were set back in relations. 15 of the 19 hijackers were saudis. And then 4 years ago, the u. S. Sanction the kingdom in response to the murder of journalists, jamal kashodi. Ah, lets bring in our guests in riyadh we have Abdul Aziz Al garcia and hes a Research Fellow a project set pat, focusing on Saudi Foreign policy in washington d. C. Doug bondo is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute on in london side, bel bashi is a managing partner at hardcastle advisory, a Political Consulting firm. Welcome. So you all are jealous ease. Ill start with you 1st in read. What have the saudis got out of this . Visit by by them pacifically. Mohammad been salmon . Well i, i would say good, good morning. Good afternoon and good, good evening. Well, all your viewers. I think they got a lot. I think, you know, one of the things that came about in the wake of the russian war on the ukraine was this notion that, of course, no matter how much people speak about an oil and moving away from oil or oil is still a very important commodity and by virtue or by definition than saudi arabia, still very important in not just an important player, but an important global player. And i think this is what has been achieved so far. So moreover, i think it asserted itself also as a regional player, was able to collect these players and, and therefore, you know, this speaks to a bit more on the saudi. It was a projection, i could say, of a saudi leadership still in the region. And we can see that from the, the statement coming out of the g. C. C plus summit are book. This is embarrassing the joe biden. Isnt it having to go cabin hand to the saudis, but as i believe, he says, oil still masses. The president was rather desperate to try to find increased sources and oil production. But it does look like a major climbed down for him. And it certainly left a number of american analysts wondering which is the super bowl that the United States looks rather weak and submissive in a situation like this. It certainly is important that the president be able to point to some benefit in terms of oil production. Because prices of oil and energy obviously are very important in the American Peoples minds with an election upcoming. But i think the image will be hard for him to escape. And his claim to be committed to human rights. I think hes taken a major beating and that will hurt him. Among progressives in the democratic party, a special ok, zide, fist, or handshake. That was about the visuals, which had been solomon was it is saudi arabia, not a pariah anymore. Well, i think the saudis definitely got more out more out of this than the americans. The issue is here is that the president was led by interests over values. This was very much a case of reality seek and the u. S. Just had to let its, its interest to proceed what it believed. Whether its a come down like you just mentioned, i dont think so. I mean both sides were clean. What keen to kind of measure the optics of this way in advance and the, the meetings were very much administered beforehand. The cameras that were of that were allowed the speakers, etc. And the president has been keen to say that this was mostly a visit to see the gcc with the regional countries, and not a bilateral with the saudis, the disease, the saudi arabia is foreign minister, say foreign affairs, not allow joe by said that the killing of jamal shell do was a terrible mistake, but its time the 2 could 2 countries have moved on. Is it time to move on . Yes i, i absolutely think it is time to move on. And quite frankly, i think the both states have moved on. But there are still remained an element of frost eunice at that elite level. And i think you know, between joseph biden. And of course the crown prince. There was still that frost in this and i still dont think that frost units will fall immediately. And i think as they mentioned, and i think he mentioned it very well. The fact that joseph biden was trying to display his framing of the trip to saudi arabia, that this is not really about going to saudi arabia. This is actually going to meet the g, c, c states, d, c, c plus this is about somehow is real and you know, trying to make peace with israel and arab nations. I think that left a bitter taste in the side of the ruling elites, mouse and i, and i think you know, that is 1st likely. Why this falling at the elite level . Well take some time now. Dont clearly lawana ok. Dont clearly the white house knew the would be a political cost to this meeting, but what was the alternative . Well, they could have, for example, made an arrangement with venezuela to bring Venezuela Oil back on. Or if they had been acting no more quickly last year to really starting to go, she ations with the wrong one, could imagine bringing iranian oil on, you know, on the other is to recognize the amount of oil they are likely to get over the time frame. Theyre likely to get from saudi arabia. The emeralds. Its not clear to me is going to have a major impact on oil prices. The problem for the president is trying to frame this is going to see the gcc has believed by no one in washing kuwait is a wonderful country, but thats not why the president went to meet with the mere this was very clearly sold as a meeting with the saudis and the fact the president emphasized so much the issue of oil. I think you places its hard for him to escape by pointing to israel and other issues which will make it harder for him. And theres great disappointment with him within some important sectors of his own party. And that might cut back on the electoral benefit that hes looking for. Will come to israel in a moment, but they had, did the americans get anything out of this . Yes, the commitment to pump oil blow increase it in the long term, about 13000000. 00 barrels is going to be any significant difference for the u. S. In terms of oil prices on about increased pumping . No, i think its more of a Public Relations victory. Mid terms are on the horizon and the president s Approval Ratings are only slightly higher than what the very unpopular president trumps ratings were at the same time in his presidency. Similarly, 600. 00 barrels a day, extra that has been muted, is only a half just over half of global demand. So i dont think its, its huge in that respect. But you have come home say, you know, ive spoken to the saudis, im going to get the oil. Thats almost a false narrative because essentially prices have been going down anyway for the last 30 days. And you know, in mid august we can expect the important psychological for dollar threshold, but what this is mostly about. And i think a lot of the commentators have missed in the, in the analysis of this is that the same administration that biden was a part of 4 years ago. Lost a lot of ground in the region and elsewhere. And i think a lot about this trip is about making up that ground, especially from a political perspective and not leaving this gaping wide vacuum for russia and china. A lot of a lot of this visit should be seen through that prism and the American Defense bank catch up. And its, its not a bad idea. I mean, the integration of iraq into the why the gcc Electricity Network is a great, you know, step in that direction to kind of take it out of iran or bit slowly. But surely, iraq will obviously be at the summit today. But a lot of this is about g of politics because the u. S. Is really last ground in the region and elsewhere as weve seen in Eastern Europe as well. And part of that is the Obama Administration, you know, the result of the Obama Administration and policies. Ok, well, joe biden said when he addressed the meeting on saturday, he said washingtons not walking away. Were not going to leave a vacuum to be filled by russia. China or iran, is he doing enough now to, to try to, to make mens to make good with the gulf states with saudi arabia, partners . Well, i think, personally, hes saying the right things. And moreover, i think the United States administrations before have we said the right things. I dont necessarily think he said anything new the, you know, what we heard were a lot of statements that, of principles, of declarations and statements of principles. But you know, time will tell i, i think that just expand upon what as i had mentioned, indeed there is this notion that there is this vacuum and i think its been prominent in the past years, especially after the arab spring, et cetera. Were where people are talking about this idea of an american withdrawal. I personally dont think america is withdrawing to that extent. Moreover, i think this is this kind of summit lent itself as an opportunity for both saudi arabia. The g. C. C plus and the United States to assert and reinforce that strategic partnership. So time will tell how, how this will develop. Doug, if this a visit, as you suggested, sort of shows a diminishing of American Power has though been successful for israel hasnt been a big friend of israel, and this has been a very good visit for israel. Well yes, what this demonstrates is that support for israel politically in the u. S. Is bipartisan. And while there is some shakiness on the democratic side with progressives who are much more interested in taking up the cause and policy and human rights that among establishment democrats. Yall are very concerned about maintaining this commitment, as well as the republican party. I mean, the problem is the most short term that is certainly advantageous politically. The longer term i do think the question is what happens in israel is very important. And its going toward another election which will undoubtedly resolved in a result more to the right. And the question is, what happens to palestinians by some estimates . There are currently more errands between the jordan river in the mediterranean, the jews. So the question of how is real manages to be both democratic and jewish and to find some settlement for millions of people who are under occupation is very important issue the could be explosive. And i dont think anything was balanced by this trip. The president s made an effort, visited the west bank, but i dont think that was seen as very much by the palestinians. And i think that is an issue that has got to be addressed at some time, but live granting ass base to south to israeli aircraft, to fly over saudi arabia. Thats a boss, a prize for these railways, isnt it . Not spots progress . It said its a small step. Its a small step very well. Probably a larger step for the region. Its also just recognizing what already happens via 3rd countries. There are a jews and palestinians that must perform the pilgrimage in saudi arabia. And there is a way for them to go, but is this some sort of pre cause of a blanket acceptance of the abraham . Of course, most definitely not. I think there are some Decision Makers in israel that were able to you know, move quite, quite well forward with the abraham records for very little in response on the palestinian question. The president made a fleeting visit to the west bank and he made the right noises. He wanted a palestinian state which was viable, independent, sovereign and important be contiguous. But those are just making the right noises. Essentially. Great progress needs to be made on that issue for, for, for, you know, a big step towards regional piece. So i dont think israel got too much out of this. And again, like doug just said, which israel, the country has had 5 elections in 3 years. Is most likely going to move to the could. Remarkably lesson yahoo may even come back despite is tanisha legacy, which is a completely different israel that the world will be dealing with. I think its important to catch this visit within those circumstances. But what happens in these rarely election . Many could keep us busy for many, many of the programs. But abdul aziz, do you think there is a chance of this visit . Well bring a normalization ultimately in relations between israel and saudi arabia. No, i dont think so. And i think as he had mentioned that it is a very small step that has taken place more rover. I think in order, i think its important to contextualize the step. You know, if we look back at the abraham accords, i think one of the things that can be taken away from it is that it has shifted the burden of concessions from israeli, from israeli concessions to the United States. In other words, now, one of the aspects that me, that are, is part of the calculation is not just to what extent is there great progress on the palestinian israeli issue. But also who is the right person in the white house . And i think quite frankly, that the, the abraham, the, im sorry, the fly over rice, as doug mentioned earlier, that its very important for biden, to be on the side or to have the pro is really a contingencies in the United States. Be on a site in the elections. Therefore, these old fly over right should be considered as a gesture. From the side you need to abide and, and just say, listen, you go ahead, this is our just start to turn a new page. You can politicize this as you want, but in regards to norma isolation, there are still a lot of things that need to be done. And one of these things, as i mentioned earlier, was the right, was the right person in the white house. And i dont think joe biden is the one. Okay. That the cider willingly want to have as the person to have this massive achievement or a dog normalization of relations with israel. Notwithstanding. Does the u. S. Need to build a new security umbrella in the middle east . That brit, those include israel, egypt, im the gulf states. Well, certainly for an american standpoint, it would be helpful to have a balance of power in the region where it doesnt necessarily expect American Military involvement for any particular, you know, contingency, you know, the American People are rather tired of medicine wars. So being able to tie together israel and the amorous and saudi arabia and presumably the other gcc members, you know, is an opportunity to help create some form of collective security with a significant military power. That is israel, that might be able to at least initially handle problems that arise with a somewhat lesser expectation of american involvement, or at least garrisons on station. So i think this has a potential security benefit for the United States to help stabilize the middle east without quite the same expectation of american involvement. That i see you nodding away that you see this is bringing security benefits to, to the u. S. And the region this meeting, i dont see it bringing it, but it has the potential to you will have heard the king of jordans muted calls last week for a regional nato. Thats a fantastic idea, especially in the context of an eventual us withdraw. Youll of course, recall the british withdraw east of suez and for that to work for Regional Military lines to work. It must involve all parties including the iranians, the turks, the israelis much as nature brought together, the french and the germans, et cetera. Without that, it could never work though the idea in principle is fantastic because these countries cannot continue to out source their security too far away. Security partners. Dog is a deliberate pivots of the u. S. Back to the middle east. When once people would have called the gulf countries to look up to their own security, the u. S. Seems to be coming back in, is that what you see . I wouldnt quite call it a pivot. I think this administration is still convinced that long term the us has to focus on china because china is the one country honor that we would call a potential peer competitor, you know, and equal economically in an equal militarily with extraordinary opportunities for military miss important region so its going to have to concentrate ultimately on asia, but i think it wants to show the middle east that the middle east does not forgotten. And that the u. S. Is able to Pay Attention to the middle east, even as it might make larger changes in its foreign policy. You know, it wants it. So its friends in the region to recognize the us is not disappearing. That there may be changes in the future, but that doesnt mean a lack of interest or a lack of attention. Ok analyses. I just want to talk a quick, a little bit about yemen. One of the worlds, the worst humanitarian crisis, the world is seen. We have managed to have a 15 week long sci fi out of this is, this is a positive that the americans can take out of this meeting. Something they hope to prolong was well, given the saudis breelle desire to wend this conflict. Well, i dont think its just a desire an benefit for the United States to continue. I think certainly the benefit of the main benefit that the United States and forgive me for being very pessimistic here, but is to claim the fact that it tried and it induced this particular kind of ceasefire. But i think, as you mentioned in your question, indeed for a very long time, saudi has trying to be tried to seek a, any solution to the situation. And i think, you know, on the ground it at times, you know, thats very, very, very difficult. And so i think indeed this is welcome and i think the fact that you know, a lot of people will try to continue are expanding upon this development. Because its for the sake of the region either you know, and for the sake of a prosperous region. So indeed, you, we could expect a lot of politicization of this. We could expect a lot of people claiming that they induced this. But indeed, it is in the benefit of all people to see this cease fire, continue and long may it continue to lead up to a prosperous yemen. Ok, charlotte, as we begin to wrap up zion, i just like to ask you to touch on something that doug mentioned the beginning of the program, this apparent a parents of American Power diminishing. And do you see that when biden comes in, the mood of via bidens visit . Does that suggest to you that america, faced with a climbing research in china, faced with russia, is a diminished power in the region . I think diminishing as opposed to diminished. And whats extraordinary is the same administration that biden was a part of previously was actually making its way away from Energy Dependency from the region. Local fracking in the states had given the United States an opportunity to become less exposed as the saudis, quite smartly. And when you look back at it drove those factors out of the market and also fracking became environmentally controversial. The u. S. Has now made itself more vulnerable to international supplies. For example, those from the gulf. So from that perspective, i think it was not, it was not something that any american president expected to be doing. The broad long term trajectory was that the region was becoming less important for us Decision Makers. But now it seems to have Research Important in terms of a diminishing power. You only have to look at the increased military spending of china. Whats interesting and the real highlights for me from this trip was the, the commitment to the Global Partnership for infrastructure. So thats the direct form of brinkman ship against the china and belt and road initiative, where the u. S. Is trying to combat the influence that china has in developing countries. So its trying to get itself out of the hole, but it said ok, were out of time unfortunately. But thanks to our guest. Abdul aziz al gulshan to doug band out on zion bel bashi. And thank you to for watching. You can see the problem again. Anytime by visiting our website, al jazeera dot com for more debate, go to our facebook page, facebook dot com forward slash ha, inside story. You can also join the conversation on twitter. We are at a j inside store for me, Bernard Smith and the whole team here fighting ah, ah, a, the latest news as it breaks this decision basically said that the roe v wade decision was simply wrong. It is highly unusual for Supreme Court to overrule precedent with detailed coverage. The problem bridge will not only significantly reduce the problem, but it is expected to initiate an economic boom from around the world. This one here depicts the late who it was offered a no up who was revolutionary poems in his play of the many im like a vase in the south of india to find out how it tiny bass in this, steve brought an extensive Mining Operation to a scan corona virus wept across the world with devastating effect, and its widely believed to be connected to the legal wildlife trade. Here in vietnam, we visit a rescue center for some of the worlds most threatened to animals and joined the call for an end to the Global Wildlife cherry earth right on al jazeera. Ah