Trump rebukes Saudis, but also gives them more time

The Trump administration offered its first rebuke of Saudi Arabia on Thursday over the disappearance of a U.S.-based journalist widely believed to have been murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Mnuchin's decision and Pompeo’s remarks signaled the Trump administration’s patience with Saudi Arabia is becoming limited amid the growing international outcry over Khashoggi's fate.

But by leaving the Khashoggi investigation in the Saudi's hands, the administration sent mixed signals about just how forceful it will be with its close Middle East ally.

New reports this week from Turkey have said there is audio of people cutting off Khashoggi’s fingers and beheading him at the Saudi consulate in Instanbul. The New York Times reported Thursday that U.S. intelligence agencies increasingly believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for what ever happened to Khashoggi.

The administration is facing pressure from Republican lawmakers in Congress, who have warned of sanctions on Saudi Arabia if its government was responsible for killing Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who resided in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Khashoggi was critical of Mohammed's stewardship of the Saudi government and the Trump administration's foreign policy.

It’s unclear how independent any investigation by Saudi Arabia would have from the crown prince.

“They made clear to me that they too understand the serious nature of the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi,” Pompeo said of the Saudis. “They also assured me that they will conduct a complete, thorough investigation of all of the facts surrounding Mr. Khashoggi and that they will do so in a timely fashion.”

Pompeo and Trump, who has put a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia at the center of his foreign policy, have both come under criticism for their handling of the Khashoggi crisis.

Pompeo was filmed with a smile on his face in Riyadh, and also was criticized for saying that did not talk about “any of the facts” on the Khashoggi matter with Saudi Arabia.

There have been signs that the White House has been unhappy with media coverage suggestion they’ve taken too soft a line with Saudi Arabia, and that both Pompeo and Trump would like to correct that impression.

Trump in a tweet on Thursday said that he had discussed the Khashoggi case “in great deal” with Pompeo and that “he is waiting for the results of the investigations being done by the Saudis and Turkey.”

Even as Trump and Pompeo sought to signal they were taking a serious approach to the matter and needed to hear explanations from Riyadh, however, Pompeo also made clear that the administration wants to maintain an alliance with Saudi Arabia.

“I think it's important for all of us to understand, too, we have a long — since 1932 — a long strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “They are an important strategic alliance of the United States and we need to be mindful of that as well.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)