Lindsey Graham defends trip to Saudi Arabia after previously condemning crown prince
Jack Birle
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) defended his trip to Saudi Arabia by explaining how the country has made changes in recent years for the better.
Graham says that since his previous comments, where he denounced the country and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress.
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“I have been talking with the Biden administration about working with Saudi Arabia to build on the reforms they’re doing in their country and to build on the Abraham Accords. If you get nothing else out of this interview, things in Saudi Arabia are changing very quickly for the better. I see a chance to normalize the relationship between United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel that would be transformative for the region,” Graham said on ABC’s This Week.
Graham also said he made the trip to the middle east to thank the country for a deal with U.S.-based airplane manufacturer Boeing to purchase planes for their new airline as opposed to purchasing planes from the European-based Airbus.
“Saudi Arabia purchased $36 billion worth of 787 Boeing jets made in Charleston, South Carolina. They picked the Boeing 787 over the Airbus. I came over here to say thanks to Saudi Arabia. They are thinking about buying more jets,” Graham said.
The South Carolina Republican also outlined how the “transformative” change the crown prince has outlined offers an opportunity for the U.S. to work for security in the middle east.
“I also came over here to caution them about getting too cozy with China and Iran. But Vision 2030 of the crown prince is real. Women can drive for the first time in modern Saudi history. Women can go out to dinner without a male escort. His vision for the country economically is transformative. A trillion dollars is going to be spent to modernize Saudi Arabia. I’d like to be part of that transition,” Graham said.
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“What I saw in Saudi Arabia was a game changer for me, but I want to build on the progress, but have an honest candid relationship. There are things that need to change in Saudi Arabia, but the ability to work with Saudi Arabia is at an all-time high. If we can normalize relationships with Saudi Arabia, and then with Israel, build upon the Abraham accords, it would be the biggest change in my lifetime regarding mid-east security and America’s security,” Graham said.
Graham was a vocal critic of the crown prince for several years in the aftermath of the Khashoggi killing, even going as far as saying that he intended to “sanction the hell” out of the country and calling for the crown prince to be removed as a leader for the country.