Why Biden Can’t Ice Out Saudi Arabia
Slate News
Slate Podcasts
4.5 • 6K Ratings
🗓️ 22 June 2022
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On the campaign trail, Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and said its ruling regime should be held accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now, rising oil prices have caused President Biden to soften his tone and plan a visit to Saudi Arabia next month. How much can the U.S. really demand of its allies?
Guest: Gregory Gause, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This episode is brought to you by Best Buy. Whether you're searching for exciting gifts or trying |
| 0:05.2 | to snag the hottest holiday deals, Best Buy is here to help. From air friars for the aspiring |
| 0:10.4 | foodies in your life, to smartwatches, your fitness friends will love. Best Buy is your |
| 0:15.3 | gifting destination for everyone on your list. Best Buy makes it easy to get your gifts how and when |
| 0:20.4 | you need them with free next day delivery on thousands of items, as well as same day delivery and |
| 0:25.6 | in store pickup options. Shop great deals on gifts now. At Best Buy. |
| 0:36.9 | Next month, President Biden will get on Air Force One and do something that would have been in |
| 0:41.6 | theathema to candidate Biden. He's going to visit Saudi Arabia. |
| 0:49.2 | When I think about the US Saudi relationship, I tend to use this word in my head, |
| 0:53.1 | frenemy, is that fair? There's no good translation of frenemy into Arabic. |
| 1:02.3 | Gregory Gawz is an expert on the Saudi US relationship. He teaches at Texas A&M. |
| 1:08.2 | I wouldn't use frenemy, but I also think it's a mistake to use the word ally, |
| 1:14.0 | because allies are people that you will fight for, kind of reflexively. You're committed to it, |
| 1:20.0 | right? NATO article five. We were never that. |
| 1:24.1 | The US and Saudi Arabia were especially not allies over the last few years. In the wake of the |
| 1:30.4 | killing of the Saudi dissident and US-based journalist Jamal Kashoggi. Kashoggi was in fact murdered |
| 1:37.3 | and dismembered, and I believe in the order of the Crown Prince. And I would make it very clear. |
| 1:43.0 | At a presidential debate, Biden called Saudi Arabia a pariah and promised to treat the country that way. |
| 1:48.8 | There's very little social redeeming value in the present government in Saudi Arabia. |
| 1:57.3 | Turns out things look a little different from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which is why |
| 2:02.4 | come July, Biden is going to visit the pariahs themselves. Every detail is choreographed. |
| 2:09.7 | And in this case, what the Biden administration is getting is, well, this isn't a direct bilateral |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.