Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has made a sudden decision to cancel a high-profile meeting with United States Senators scheduled for this week. The cancellation, reportedly driven by sensitivities over which lawmakers would be present, introduces a fresh layer of complexity to his official state visit.
Diplomatic Snub and Investment Agenda
The Saudi leader, widely known as MBS, is currently in the US to discuss a range of critical issues. The agenda for his trip includes defence agreements, a pledged $600 billion Saudi investment into the US economy, and a potential civilian nuclear deal. A meeting with a group of Senators on Capitol Hill was intended to strengthen ties between the Saudi government and US legislators.
However, on Tuesday, sources familiar with the planning revealed to Punchbowl News that the Wednesday meeting was abruptly called off. The primary reason cited was that Saudi officials were 'being overly sensitive about which senators could attend'. This cancellation was subsequently confirmed by the Saudi state-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya.
Khashoggi's Shadow and Senatorial Criticism
The cancellation raises immediate questions about which specific senators caused the unease. The political context is heavily influenced by the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. The CIA has stated with 'high confidence' that the killing was ordered by MBS.
This event has shaped the views of several US politicians. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was fiercely critical in the aftermath, labelling the Crown Prince 'toxic' and a 'wrecking ball'. He vowed at the time to 'sanction the hell out of Saudi Arabia' and pledged never to work with MBS as long as he remains in power.
Democrats have also been vocal. Senator Bernie Sanders recently posted on social media platform X, calling MBS 'the dictator who had a U.S. columnist murdered'. Similarly, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey criticised discussions about selling advanced fighter jets to the Saudis, suggesting billion-dollar business deals with the Trump family were 'paying off'.
Ongoing Engagement and Future Implications
Despite the cancelled Senate session, the Crown Prince's itinerary remains busy. He was a guest of President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Furthermore, he is slated to attend the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center alongside the President and over 400 CEOs from both nations.
It remains unclear whether the meeting was scrapped due to the potential presence of critical Democrats or certain Republicans like Lindsey Graham. The office of Senator Graham did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. While the group meeting is off, individual senators may still choose to meet with MBS privately.
This diplomatic hiccup underscores the ongoing tensions in the US-Saudi relationship, where significant economic and defence interests are persistently weighed against profound human rights concerns.
