The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James Smith, told the Arabic news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat that American foreign policy will now change after President Barack Obama’s reelection. Smith made the comments at an election night party at his residence.
Ambassador Smith “stressed the desire of President Obama to resolve a number of foreign issues, most notably restoring negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, responding more strongly to Iran, and working with allies to end the Syrian crisis, in addition to providing support for the new governments in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and assisting the current Yemeni President,” Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
The ambassador appears not to have elaborated further.
Obama was famously overheard promising the Russian leadership more flexibility after he was reelected by the American people. It now seems Obama believes he will have more flexibility in the Middle East, too.
The Arabic outlet also asked the ambassador about America’s relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood:
Though the ambassador did seem to have at least some measure of praise for the current Egyptian leader:
Smith denied that any secret meetings were held between US administration officials and members of the Muslim Brotherhood before the so-called Arab Spring, confirming that “we only met and sat with the Muslim Brotherhood after their candidate had won the election”.
