US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States will remain an active, engaged partner in the Middle East for leaders gathered at the Jeddah Security and Development Summit.
“The United States has invested in building a positive future for the region in partnership with all of you — and the United States is not going anywhere,” Biden told Arab leaders in a speech to launch the summit.
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Biden is trying to start a new chapter in US involvement in the Middle East, hoping to move past US military conflicts and instead pushing for a region that respects the domestic affairs of individual nations. but seeks economic integration and shared security amid concerns over Iran.
Biden also said at the summit that the US is committed to ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.
On his first visit to the Middle East as president, Biden attended a planned summit with six Gulf states and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq on Friday after meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Biden came to Saudi Arabia hoping to strike a deal on oil production to help slash gasoline prices, which are driving inflation to a more than 40-year high and skewing his election figures. .
However, he will leave the region empty-handed and is hoping his diplomatic efforts here will prompt the OPEC+ group to boost production when they meet on August 3.
“I look forward to seeing what happens in the coming months,” Biden said.
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