Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Social media activists released an article by journalist Hisham Melhem, in which he covered US-Saudi relations following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Riyadh, amid widespread interaction.
The article was posted by Melhem on the Middle East Broadcasting Network “MBN”, and he reposted it on his official Twitter page, saying, “A country like Saudi Arabia shouldn’t enjoy the umbrella of American protection as it automatically deserves this protection, or that such protection is a one-way street. And if the rulers of Saudi Arabia don’t like it, they can always seek knowledge in China.”
CNN Arabic has reached out to Saudi authorities for comment, with no response as of this writing.
The visit of the Chinese president and the manner of his reception and its comparison with the reception of US President Joe Badin on his recent visit to Riyadh has sparked widespread interaction among activists on social media.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has argued that the Saudi-Chinese rapprochement is a direct result of what he described as “bad American policy,” criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration’s dealings with US allies.
Pompeo, secretary of state in former President Donald Trump’s administration, said in an interview with the “Fox News” channel, in response to a question about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia, that “when you don’t become a partner with your friends and allies and taunt them, and you do nothing to talk back to your opponents.” Like Xi Jinping, we see this kind of cover-up behavior.”
