London – After visiting the Kingdom, US Senator Lindsey Graham commended Saudi Arabia, making a U-turn from his earlier criticism of its Vision 2030 reform programme.
Following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, the Republican senator from South Carolina criticised the Kingdom loudly and had previously promised never to enter or conduct business with the country.
Graham acknowledged that a lot has changed since then while describing his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ABC’s “This Week” anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday.
“Well, a few things occurred. First and foremost, Graham said, “I’ve been discussing with the Biden administration how we can cooperate with Saudi Arabia to build on the reforms they’re implementing in their nation and to build on the Abraham Accords.
“If there is one thing you take away from this conversation, it’s that things are improving swiftly in Saudi Arabia.
“I see a chance for the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel to normalise their relations, which would be revolutionary for the region.”
Israel established diplomatic ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco as a result of the US-brokered agreements, which were supervised by then-President Donald Trump in 2020.
Graham also thanked Saudi Arabia in the interview for its $36 billion purchase of 787 Boeing aeroplanes from Charleston, South Carolina, his home state.
The Boeing 787 was chosen instead of the Airbus. I came here to express my gratitude to Saudi Arabia. They’re considering purchasing additional jets, he informed Karl.
Graham was extremely complimentary of the Kingdom’s reform agenda and the leadership’s contribution to the nation’s transformation.
He declared, “The crown prince’s vision for 2030 is a reality. “For the first time in Saudi Arabian modern history, women can drive. Women can dine alone without a man escorting them.
The crown prince’s “vision for the country’s economy is transformative; $1 trillion will be spent to modernise Saudi Arabia,” the speaker continued. I want to be part in that change.
The progress made in Saudi Arabia, according to Graham, is “game-changing,” and he wants to expand on it while maintaining a “honest and candid relationship” with the country.
“It’s easier than ever to cooperate with Saudi Arabia. The biggest shift in my lifetime would occur if we could establish normal ties first with Saudi Arabia and subsequently with Israel, building on the Abraham Accords.
