BIDEN DEFENDS HIS UPCOMING VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA

US President Joe Biden, preparing for his controversial trip to Saudi Arabia from 13 to 16 July, has defended his decision in a newspaper opinion piece, insisting that he had long supported reforms and sought to reorient but not rupture relations with a longstanding strategic partner.In the article posted online Saturday night, Biden pointed to developments in the Middle East that he contended to make the region more stable and secure than during the Trump administration, among them to intense diplomacy as well as military action against state-sponsored attacks.But his framing of the Saudi relationship in particular appeared defensive, especially with some in the U.S. demanding that he should not lend legitimacy to the government with a visit.Biden linked U.S. strength and security to countering Russian aggression and competition from China, then argued that engaging directly with countries like Saudi Arabia could help promote those efforts.The president said he aimed to strengthen a U.S.-Saudi partnership going forward that’s based on mutual interests and responsibilities, while also holding true to fundamental American values.