Saudi ambassador denies politicizing the dispute with the USA

The Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Rima Bint Bandar, said in an interview with CNN that the dispute between the Kingdom and the US is “Not Political”, but rather “Purely Economic”.

 

The princess indicated that reviewing the relationship between the two countries is “positive”, stressing that Saudi Arabia “is not the kingdom it was 5 or 10 years ago.”

 

Princess Reema said, “Obviously we have reached the point of contention, and many people have tried to politicize this, but you hear it from the stakeholders now”.

 

She added, “The matter is not political, but rather purely economic, based on the experience of 40 or 50 years of defining trends”.

 

“We don’t get involved in anyone’s politics, we simply participate as a balance and stabilizing factor for the economy through the energy market as we have historically done,” Princess Reema noted.

 

When she was asked whether the kingdom is biased toward Russia, Princess Rima replied by saying: “The kingdom has a policy of dealing with everyone in all fields, and the relationship we have with Russia is what allowed us to release prisoners of war.”

 

She added, “We look at our role as mediator and interlocutor. We have supported Ukraine’s humanitarian and given it more than $ 400 million”.

 

She stressed, “This is what we do, and this is the value of our participation. Is this biased toward Russia? No.”

 

Regarding the Kingdom’s relationship with the US, Princess Reema indicated that “the world cannot do without the US, as it has been our strategic ally and partner for 80 years”.

 

“I hear a lot of people talking about reforming or reviewing the relationship with the kingdom, and I think that’s a positive thing,” she said.