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Trump administration to brief Congress on Saudi Arabia

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (L) sits next to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New Delhi, India on September 6, 2018. (File photo by AFP)

US President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to brief Senators on Saudi Arabia that could determine whether Congress goes forward with sanctions.

Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely conduct an “all-senators briefing” regarding the longtime US ally, two congressional sources said as quoted by The Hill website on Friday. 

The briefing which is scheduled for after Thanksgiving could create harmony in conflicting views about passing sanctions or blocking a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia following the Jamal Khashoggi murder.

Trump doubts the possibility that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had any involvement in the assassination of the dissident journalist.

Despite evidence provided by Turkey, Trump has turned a blind eye about the role played by Saudi Arabia's MbS in the brutal murder of  Khashoggi.

Senators are divided about punishment of the Saudi leadership over the murder of Khashoggi. “That will be really important ... I’m not sure adding sanctions will happen but the Saudi situation is not over,” The Hill quoted a Republican Senate aide as saying. 

The president warned on Tuesday that oil prices could go “through the roof” if Washington-Riyadh relations deteriorated over the Khashoggi killing.

On Wednesday, Trump thanked Saudi Arabia for bringing the price of oil, the kingdom's main commodity, down to $54 a barrel. 

Trump has continuously stressed that maintaining strong relations with the Saudis is beneficial to the US.

GOP aides said Trump’s pro-Saudi stance raised strong reactions from Democrats and several key Republicans, rekindling impetus for punishments.  “That statement yesterday only made matters worse in some ways for the administration,” a Senate GOP aide was quooted by The Hill as saying.
 


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