Graham Praises ‘Very Productive’ Meeting With Saudi Crown Prince

Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina has softened his stance on Saudi Arabia after a “very productive” meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his senior leadership team on April 12. The senator previously condemned the Saudi regime in 2018 following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, calling it a “betrayal” and suggesting he would support sanctions against the Saudis. However, Graham now admits that “the opportunity to enhance the US-Saudi relationship is real and the reforms going on in Saudi Arabia are equally real.”

A positive shift indeed.

Earlier Harsh Comments

Graham’s earlier sentiment came in the wake of the questionable circumstances of Khashoggi’s death, which brought mistrust and suspicion upon the Saudis, with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ruling them responsible for Khashoggi’s assassination. At the time, the South Carolina senator stated that Prince Mohammed’s actions were not those of a “true love” for country and that it would not have happened if he respected the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Graham now seems to support the idea of improving relations between the US and Saudi Arabia, arguing that it would be a “tremendous economic benefit to both countries and bring much-needed stability to a troubled region.” He also praised their recent decision to purchase two Boeing 737s.