Abstract:U.S. President Joe Biden ended his first trip to the Middle East and reaffirmed U.S. influence. However, it is difficult to dispel the controversy over the image of him "fist-banging" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). A major background of Biden's trip is the Russian-Ukrainian war. In order to fight the warmonger Russia, the United States is seeking to revive the pro-American Arab camp, just like the United States has revived NATO. Another major reason is the energy shortage ca
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his first trip to the Middle East and reaffirmed U.S. influence. However, it is difficult to dispel the controversy over the image of him “fist-banging” with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). A major background of Biden's trip is the Russian-Ukrainian war. In order to fight the warmonger Russia, the United States is seeking to revive the pro-American Arab camp, just like the United States has revived NATO. Another major reason is the energy shortage caused by the war in Ukraine, and the price of crude oil has soared. Biden visited the Gulf monarchies to try to persuade Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries to increase oil production, hoping to calm oil prices and inflation. The energy challenge for Biden and the European allies that have joined the U.S. in supporting Ukraine is enormous.
Biden's itinerary includes only two countries, Israel and Saudi Arabia. The visit comes weeks after Israel said it was working with regional partners to build a U.S.-led air defense alliance. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz told the Knesset he hoped the plan would be “a step forward” during Biden's visit to the region.
Saudi Arabia has been pressuring the United States for security guarantees to contain Iran if nuclear talks fail. The final round of talks in Doha two weeks ago stalled, with the U.S. saying Iran had added unrelated demands to the negotiating table.
Earlier on Friday, just hours before Biden's arrival, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to all airlines, a step toward normalizing ties with Iran's sworn enemy Israel. EL AL was previously banned from entering Saudi airspace on most flights.
Last month, U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to create an integrated air defense system to strengthen cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors, including countries that Biden will meet in Saudi Arabia this week. The defense system is designed to protect these countries from Iran. Biden, who will meet Jordan's King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, said this month that he favors joining the Middle East Pact with like-minded countries,
Financial data and events to focus on today:
22:00 US July NAHB housing market index
Data on Thursday showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly shrank in the second quarter, with consumer spending growing at the slowest pace in two years and business spending falling, raising the risk of a recession. The data came a day after the Fed raised interest rates by another 75 basis points in a bid to quell inflation. The Fed's actions, combined with previous actions in March, May and June, have raised the target range for the overnight benchmark rate from near zero to 2.25%-2.50%. It was th
At 2 a.m. Beijing time on Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s FOMC announced its July interest rate decision, raising interest rates by 75 basis points for the second consecutive month, raising the target range of the federal funds rate from 1.50% to 1.75% to 2.25% to 2.50%, in line with the market. expected. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinted that another 75 basis points of interest rate hikes may be possible in September, denying that the U.S. economy is in a recession, while talking ab
On July 27, data showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in June as exports jumped, while orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, seen as a barometer of business spending plans, rose 0.5% last month, potentially easing the impact on the economy. some concerns. The U.S. dollar index closed down 0.69 percent on Wednesday at 106.48. At 2:00 on July 28, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points as widely expected, and comments from Fed Chairman Powell
At 02:00 on July 28, Beijing time, the Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision and policy statement. Then at 02:30, Fed Chairman Powell held a monetary policy press conference. Markets are pricing in another 75 basis points of rate hikes this time around, taking the federal funds rate to a target range of 2.25% to 2.50%, in line with Fed officials’ long-term estimate of a “neutral” policy setting. Fed Chair Jerome Powell's pledge to fight persistently high inflation and policy g