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Commentary
Wall Street Journal

Biden’s New Approach to the Middle East

As Iran balks, Israel and Saudi Arabia are now seen as crucial to US global strategy.

walter_russell_mead
walter_russell_mead
Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship
Joe Biden and Mohammed bin Salman at the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Caption
Joe Biden and Mohammed bin Salman at the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

As the Biden administration offered the mullahs in Tehran a  for five American citizens, it was also offering Iran’s archrival Saudi Arabia unprecedented defense commitments and cooperation on a civilian nuclear program to  to normalize relations with Israel.

Inquiring minds want to know: Why is  working so hard to do favors for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman? And why is he shoveling cash to the mullahs while working to empower their enemies?