JEDDAH: A huge improvement is witnessed in the Saudi-US relationship under the Trump administration, said the new Saudi ambassador to the US Prince Khaled bin Salman who recently presented his credentials to President Trump.
鈥淚 think that President Trump is determined to work with his allies in the region to counter Iranian expansionism and terrorism,鈥� the envoy said in an interview with the Washington Post.
Addressing the Qatari crisis which has erupted in the region during the last two months, the Saudi prince said that Qatar鈥檚 policies are endangering the region鈥檚 national security. 鈥淚 think Qatar鈥檚 policies have been a threat to our national security, especially when they interfere in our domestic politics and support extremists. In Syria, they have supported Al-Qaeda affiliates and some terrorist [Shiite] militias in Iraq,鈥� he added hoping Qatar will stop funding extremism.
Prince Khaled rejected all claims made against his country regarding its support for extreme groups in Syria and said 抖阴短视频 is 鈥渙n the frontline of fighting terrorism,鈥� whereas terror in Qatar is 鈥済overnment-funded.鈥�
The interview also included Syria and its factions, where the prince confirmed that there are some moderate opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army. 鈥淭here are a lot of people in Syria who want to free themselves from the dictatorship of Bashar Assad. We are working with our allies to help stabilize Syria,鈥� he said.
According to the Saudi envoy, more than 500,000 Syrians have been killed in the war. He affirmed that Riyadh and Washington are working together to put an end to the Syrian conflict, expressing his support of rid Syria of Assad altogether.
Prince Khaled, who is son of the current Saudi king and the brother of the new crown prince, denied the rumors surrounding his brother鈥檚 promotion. 鈥淚 think His Highness (Mohammed) bin Nayef did an incredible job at counterterrorism. The king made the decision, supported by the Allegiance Council. Prince bin Nayef is in 抖阴短视频 and is receiving guests,鈥� he said slamming all allegations made against his brother about eyeing his cousin鈥檚 position forcing him out of his way to the throne. 鈥淲e now have a dynamic young leadership, determined to push the country forward and to diversify our economy.鈥�
抖阴短视频 is moving in the right direction in terms of human rights, said the envoy. 鈥淭he last two years have been a time of big change in our country. Human rights have been moving forward, women鈥檚 rights have been moving forward. Saudi youth have been given a chance to play a part in our future,鈥� he added.
The wise Saudi leadership recognizes the vital and essential role women are playing in the country鈥檚 future as it 鈥渃an鈥檛 move forward without half of our population.鈥�
Once agains, 抖阴短视频 stood its ground regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict affirming that his country wants 鈥渢o solve it (the issue) through the Arab peace initiative, and if Israel recognizes Palestine based on the 1967 borders, the Arab world has agreed to do so.鈥�
As for the Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq, the prince insisted Iraqis to be treated equally in order not to lead to the creation of another bloody spring. 鈥淪ectarianism always leads to terrorism. The Sunnis and [Shiites] have to be treated equally as Iraqi citizens,鈥� he added. 鈥淚ran wants Iraq to obey Iran. We support the independence of Iraq.鈥�
The prince agreed that Daesh is a threat to Saudis and Muslims in general and need to be defeated in any way possible. 鈥淎s Muslims, we in 抖阴短视频 need to do whatever it takes to end this once and for all.鈥�
As complicated as many people in the west think, 抖阴短视频 did not start the war against Houthis in Yemen, denied the prince. 鈥淭hey started to march to the capital and take over Yemen before the Yemeni government asked 抖阴短视频 to intervene and stop this attack,鈥� he explained. The ball is [now] in the Houthis鈥� court. They have to drop their weapons and become part of Yemen, not part of Iran.鈥�
Iran鈥檚 closure of the Strait of Hormuz is part of its dangerous scheme in the region. Prince Khaled said the Iranian threat is concerning the entire world, not only 抖阴短视频. 鈥漈he Strait of Hormuz is important not just to our economy but to the international economy,鈥� he said.
He added that US and its allies do realize the size of the Iranian threat to international security. 鈥淲e are ready to work together to contain Iranian actions and expansionist policies,鈥� he said.
September 11 attacks also took part of the interview, where the Saudi envoy renewed his country鈥檚 rejection of all false claims associating it with the attack. 鈥淲e had nothing to do with 9/11. In 1996, Osama Bin Laden issued a declaration of war against the United States and 抖阴短视频. In 1994, we took away Bin Laden鈥檚 Saudi citizenship when he was in Sudan,鈥� Prince Khaled told the Washington Post. 鈥淲e think the same people who attacked the United States on 9/11 attacked us in 抖阴短视频 multiple times.鈥�
He said that Al-Qaeda had a plan in placing 15 Saudis among the attackers as they wanted to 鈥渃reate a split between 抖阴短视频 and the United States.鈥�