YE Biden Mideast WEB

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Metadata
  • YE Biden Mideast WEB
  • December 14, 2022
  • Content Type Package
  • Language English
  • Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: YE Biden Mideast YE (TV) HEADLINE: Saudi Arabia, Israel Complicate Biden’s 2022 Goals TEASER: Amid strategic rivalry with China and the war in Ukraine, US aimed to strengthen ties with traditional Middle East allies PUBLISHED:12/14/2022 at BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: White House VIDEOGRAPHER: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Tom Turco VIDEO SOURCES: AP, AFP, Reuters (NOTE: Part No Access PNN, see script) PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:10s VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) Amid a strategic rivalry with China and the war in Ukraine, President Joe Biden intended in 2022 to strengthen ties with traditional Middle East allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel to counter the threat from Iran and ensure stability in the region. Whether he accomplished that is a matter of debate. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara recaps Biden’s year in the Middle East. ((NARRATOR)) The infamous fist bump between Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince and de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman during the U.S. president’s visit to Jeddah in July. It’s emblematic of the reality that the Saudis human rights record aside, the U.S. needs a strong relationship with the kingdom to maintain stability in the Middle East, as Washington focuses on the war on Ukraine and a strategic rivalry with Beijing. ((President Joe Biden)) “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership.” ((NARRATOR)) Biden had planned to do that by pushing for deeper ties between Israel — another key ally — and its Arab neighbors. Signs were initially positive, including the president’s historic trip from Tel Aviv to Jeddah, hours after Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to civilian flights to and from Israel. ((NO ACCESS PNN)) ((NARRATOR)) The U.S. is also facilitating plans for an Arab-Israeli integrated regional air defense system to counter the threat from Iran, particularly as talks to stop Tehran’s nuclear program collapsed. ((END NO ACCESS PNN) ((Radio track: Merissa Khurma, director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, via Skype)) ((Merissa Khurma, Wilson Center)) ((Skype)) “Recent developments in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, which have surpassed two months right now and still ongoing, have of course shifted the focus basically away from the nuclear deal.” ((NARRATOR)) Biden faced more complications — the election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli prime minister of a far-right coalition including ultranationalist parties. ((NO ACCESS PNN)) ((NARRATOR)) They're likely to be even more opposed to diplomacy with Tehran... ((END NO ACCESS PNN)) and bring conflict with the Palestinians to new levels. ((Radio track: Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, via Skype)) ((Khaled Elgindy, Middle East Institute)) ((Skype)) “Any number of things can create tensions and violence on the ground. And this administration is just not keen to have to challenge Israeli politics, policies publicly. But they may have to because this is going to be a very extreme government.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, U.S.-Saudi relations hit a low point in October when the kingdom pushed OPEC members to slash oil production, ignoring Washington’s request to increase output to offset price increases triggered by the war in Ukraine. At that time, the administration said it would review whether the relationship with Saudi Arabia still served U.S. interests. With gas prices stabilizing following Biden’s order to release U.S. strategic petroleum reserves, VOA asked the White House if an evaluation was less urgent, particularly in light of growing Saudi-China ties, as seen in the lavish welcome the Saudis gave Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his December visit. ((Radio track: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre)) ((Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary)) “We will judge the way forward based on their [Saudi Arabia's] actions, as well as our ongoing consultations with partners and allies, and also the new Congress that is going to be before us very soon, and the Saudis as well.” ((NARRATOR)) One bright spot in Biden’s year in the Middle East – the deal he brokered between Israel and Lebanon to end their maritime boundary dispute, enabling cash-strapped Beirut to explore offshore gas reserves. ((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.))
  • Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: YE Biden Mideast YE (TV) HEADLINE: Saudi Arabia, Israel Complicate Biden’s 2022 Goals TEASER: Amid strategic rivalry with China and the war in Ukraine, US aimed to strengthen ties with traditional Middle East allies PUBLISHED:12/14/2022 at BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: White House VIDEOGRAPHER: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Tom Turco VIDEO SOURCES: AP, AFP, Reuters (NOTE: Part No Access PNN, see script) PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:10s VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) Amid a strategic rivalry with China and the war in Ukraine, President Joe Biden intended in 2022 to strengthen ties with traditional Middle East allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel to counter the threat from Iran and ensure stability in the region. Whether he accomplished that is a matter of debate. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara recaps Biden’s year in the Middle East. ((NARRATOR)) The infamous fist bump between Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince and de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman during the U.S. president’s visit to Jeddah in July. It’s emblematic of the reality that the Saudis human rights record aside, the U.S. needs a strong relationship with the kingdom to maintain stability in the Middle East, as Washington focuses on the war on Ukraine and a strategic rivalry with Beijing. ((President Joe Biden)) “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran. We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership.” ((NARRATOR)) Biden had planned to do that by pushing for deeper ties between Israel — another key ally — and its Arab neighbors. Signs were initially positive, including the president’s historic trip from Tel Aviv to Jeddah, hours after Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to civilian flights to and from Israel. ((NO ACCESS PNN)) ((NARRATOR)) The U.S. is also facilitating plans for an Arab-Israeli integrated regional air defense system to counter the threat from Iran, particularly as talks to stop Tehran’s nuclear program collapsed. ((END NO ACCESS PNN) ((Radio track: Merissa Khurma, director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, via Skype)) ((Merissa Khurma, Wilson Center)) ((Skype)) “Recent developments in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, which have surpassed two months right now and still ongoing, have of course shifted the focus basically away from the nuclear deal.” ((NARRATOR)) Biden faced more complications — the election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli prime minister of a far-right coalition including ultranationalist parties. ((NO ACCESS PNN)) ((NARRATOR)) They're likely to be even more opposed to diplomacy with Tehran... ((END NO ACCESS PNN)) and bring conflict with the Palestinians to new levels. ((Radio track: Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, via Skype)) ((Khaled Elgindy, Middle East Institute)) ((Skype)) “Any number of things can create tensions and violence on the ground. And this administration is just not keen to have to challenge Israeli politics, policies publicly. But they may have to because this is going to be a very extreme government.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, U.S.-Saudi relations hit a low point in October when the kingdom pushed OPEC members to slash oil production, ignoring Washington’s request to increase output to offset price increases triggered by the war in Ukraine. At that time, the administration said it would review whether the relationship with Saudi Arabia still served U.S. interests. With gas prices stabilizing following Biden’s order to release U.S. strategic petroleum reserves, VOA asked the White House if an evaluation was less urgent, particularly in light of growing Saudi-China ties, as seen in the lavish welcome the Saudis gave Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his December visit. ((Radio track: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre)) ((Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary)) “We will judge the way forward based on their [Saudi Arabia's] actions, as well as our ongoing consultations with partners and allies, and also the new Congress that is going to be before us very soon, and the Saudis as well.” ((NARRATOR)) One bright spot in Biden’s year in the Middle East – the deal he brokered between Israel and Lebanon to end their maritime boundary dispute, enabling cash-strapped Beirut to explore offshore gas reserves. ((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House.))
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date December 14, 2022 12:04 EST
  • Byline Patsy Widakuswara
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America
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