Jon Decker previews The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia's Washington visit

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
John Decker joining us now our White House correspond Busy
day at the White House. Big dignitary coming in the
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Good morning, John.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
We're talking about Crown Prince Mohammad in somem On MBS
as he's known shorthand. He's going to be at the
White House today and today and tomorrow. It's all about
Saudi Arabia. Today, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia will
arrive at the White House at the eleven o'clock am
our Eastern time. Today. The President will have a bilateral

(00:28):
meeting with him. They'll have a lunch, the President's team
and MBS's team at the White House. They'll take a
little bit of break, and then tonight a formal dinner
back at the White House in which the President will
honor the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. And tomorrow business
conference which focuses on Saudi Arabia investment in America and

(00:51):
US investment in Saudi Arabia that will take place at
the Kennedy Center. So big week on tap as it
relates to President Trump's out h to a very important
Middle East ally.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
All Right, when you talk about bilateral meeting means I
guess both sides get to talk about what they have
on the agenda. Both concerns, both ideas for the United
States and the Saudiast position not only in their own
countries and the relationship between the two, but also what

(01:23):
goes on in the Middle East and how we can
be together on doing what is right here. Will the
discussion of the whole situation with Israel and Gaza and
the Palestinian state and all of that come up in Hamas?
Will that discussion be broached?

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Oh? Absolutely, that's very important. The reason why it's so
important is because the President has expressed the desire to
have Saudi Arabia join the Abraham of Courts, and that's
something that Saudi Arabia said is a possibility, but only
if there is a Palestinian state, and of course there
is no Palestinian state right now, so we'll see. You know,

(02:00):
the President yesterday announced that he will approve and has
approved very advanced fighter jets F thirty five for sale
to Saudi Arabia. That's something that they've been desiring for
quite some time. Perhaps JT. It's equip pro quote, we'll
sell you those F thirty five. If you come into
the Abraham Accords, which normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
When you talk about US selling airplanes like that and
big gear, why don't the Saudis have their own. That
country's got gobs of money.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, well, they do have gobs of money, that is true,
there's no doubt about that. But they don't have the technology.
You know, we have the best technology in the world
as far as military equipment is concerned, as far as
fighter jets are concerned. The President talks about that often
and he's right, and that's the reason why countries around
the world desire that military equipment. The one fly in

(02:54):
the ointment, if you want to call it that JT
is that Israel would have some problems as it relates
to the sale of F thirty five. I think that's
the reason why I say, perhaps, you know, there's a
commitment from Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords. Israel
once a qualitative military advantage over every country in the
Middle East, and by selling those F thirty five, something

(03:17):
Israel already has in their arsenal, perhaps Israel may have
some problems with that. But I think that the President
likely has already spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nettunyahu
about his intentions to sell these f thirty five to
Saudi Arabia.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
All right, tell us what that means when they join
the Abraham Accords for those that are not familiar with
that language, in the relationship that is with those folks
that are in that and how that might upset to
net and Yahoo, and what that would mean to the globe.
If in fact the Saudi Prince says, yes, we will
come into the Abraham Accords, how does that reposition?

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Well, that would be a big deal. You know, the
Abraham Accords established during President Trump's first term in the
White House. You may recall the story that he was
nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for the President's work
on that in his first term. In any case, what
it does is it normalizes relations between Israel and a
number of Arab countries, a number of countries in the

(04:15):
Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. If it were to join
the Abraham Accords, that would be a huge feat for
the president and it would certainly establish a lot of
peace in the Middle East, something the president has been seeking.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
Why have they been reluctant, do you think so long?

Speaker 2 (04:31):
Well, simply because they say it's too soon. We're not
going to normalize relations unless and until there is a
Palestinian state. They are very much for a two state
solution as it's called, and they say we will join
at that time. And as you know, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin et Yaho says now is not the time for
a Palestinian state. He is adamantly opposed to it. So

(04:55):
we'll have to wait and see what comes out of that.
Aspect of these meetings, the meetings that will focus on investment,
including you know, seeking is America's help in terms of
establishing a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia. Interesting right
that Saudi Arabia is oil kingdom, wants to develop a

(05:16):
nuclear program as well, but that is also on the agenda.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
All right, Very good, John Decker, our White House correspondent.
Big meeting today with the Saudi Prince. Thank you, John,