I well understand the need for state-to-state diplomacy, particularly between antagonists. Often, it’s the only alternative to war. This is certainly the current case in Ukraine, a country that has been turned into one big killing field following the Russian invasion and where the failure to negotiate now threatens to expand the local war into a global one.
But many observers around the world see President Biden's fist-bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as more than a diplomatic greeting, but rather as a symbolic war gesture aimed at Iran and as Biden’s desperate plea for oil. It was also seen by many observers as the President of the United States consorting with a journalist-killer. Not a good look.
And if journalist killers are what Biden is looking for to build his Cold War alliance he could have found no better places to begin his Middle East trip than Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Remember, in 2019 Biden was calling Saudi Arabia a “pariah state” over the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Biden’s visit appeared to bolster the notion that Saudi Arabia is a full and welcome member of the family of nations.”
The Saudi government shared multiple photos and videos including one showing MbS exchanging fist bumps with grinning U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser.
For brevity’s sake, I just call the three, Winken, Blinken, and Nod.