The American intelligence services are preparing, Friday, to publish their report, potentially explosive for the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed Ben Salman (MBS), on the murder of the Saudi dissident and American resident Jamal Khashoggi, dismembered under atrocious conditions in the Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
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On Thursday evening, Joe Biden attempted to clear the land by calling King Salman on the phone, for the first time since arriving at the White House.
Neither Washington nor Riyadh in their debrief mentioned this report, with the White House preferring to focus on the two messages conveyed to the monarch: more must be done on human rights, but the United States United will continue to ensure the security of the kingdom against Iran and its militias in the Middle East.
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This report could clearly establish MBS's responsibility in the crime, as the CIA believes.
But the slowness with which it will have been published may, on the contrary, suggest that Washington could use it to wrest the desired reforms from its historic ally.
“
This is a crime, which shocked the conscience
, affirmed Thursday the State Department.
We will soon be able to speak up and hold those responsible to account
. ”
Some believe the report heralds a "
soft hit
" against MBS, as the White House has previously said the president will only speak to King Salman.
Others believe, on the contrary, that the strategic relationship will survive this long-awaited relationship.