Saudi Arabia

“The NSC Democracy Directorate reliably asserts that democracy and human rights are not just values, but vital national security interests. It remains difficult to get other national security officials on board with this approach. . . . It would require people willing to break with the status quo to implement democracy and human rights as the center of our foreign policy.”

“Countries that are democratic and respect human rights, at the end of the day, are more stable, more peaceful, more prosperous, and better allies.”

“The US continues to provide certain types of equipment. They have announced several arms sales just within the last year. There is logistics support and maintenance. All these things to my mind should be on the table [for leveraging].”

“This equipment can absolutely be used in offensive operations, so I find this particularly troubling.”

“[Biden has] less of the superficial, showy embrace that we got from Trump, but he’s basically going back to the pre-Trump status quo of embracing the Saudi regime…completely unabated in terms of transactions and weapons sales.”

“The administration is falling far short of its stated emphasis on human rights and the need to hold the [murderers] of Jamal Khashoggi accountable… It’s hard to see how this is even a ‘recalibration’ of the relationship.”

“I also don’t think the administration has explained why we cannot sanction him and [also] not rupture the relationship. The US could still engage with security officials and other diplomats as we need to, without excusing MBS.”