Published 15:45 IST, June 29th 2019
US President Donald Trump is 'extremely angry' about Jamal Khashoggi, but says, "nobody has directly pointed finger at" Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
For the world, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's global reputation seems to be stained with the bloody Yemen war, barbaric human rights violations in his Kingdom and the case of slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, however, at the G20 Summit in Osaka's Japan it hardly mattered with the lush reception that he received.
For the world, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's global reputation seems to be stained with the bloody Yemen war, barbaric human rights violations in his Kingdom and the case of slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, however, at the G20 Summit in Osaka's Japan it hardly mattered with the lush reception that he received.
Despite the CIA concluding months ago the Crown Prince's direct involvement in the murder of Khashoggi, the UN expert calling for a probe of his alleged role in the killing and the growing number of people questioning US's proximity with Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump remains unperturbed.
Trump conducted a bilateral meet with their ally and 'great friend', Saudi Arabia and heaped praises for the 'reformer'. At the meeting, the media questioned the US President about the prominent journalist, to which he brazenly ignored by saying, "Thank you very much," while the Crown Prince sitting opposite Trump had a smirk on his face.
On Saturday, Trump said that he is 'extremely angry' about the murder, but that nobody had "pointed a finger" at the Kingdom's crown prince.
"I am extremely angry and unhappy" about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi's consulate in Istanbul, Trump said.
But "nobody has directly pointed a finger at the future King of Saudi Arabia", the US president added when asked about whether he raised the issue during a meeting with the royal.
As the two sat down over breakfast on Saturday, Trump even praised his "friend" for taking steps to open up the kingdom and extend freedoms to Saudi women.
A White House statement said the two leaders discussed "Saudi Arabia's critical role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and global oil markets, the growing threat from Iran, increased trade and investments between the two countries, and the importance of human rights issues."
Saudi Arabia denies the 33-year-old crown prince had any knowledge of the killing of Khashoggi. The kingdom has put on trial 11 suspects, some of whom worked directly for the prince. But his closest former adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, who was sanctioned by the United States after the killing, is not among those on trial.
(With AP inputs)
Updated 16:07 IST, June 29th 2019