Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images US President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday disputed claims that an upcoming visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia signals America’s waning influence in the Middle East, insisting the US is “not going anywhere”. Tim Lederking, the US special envoy for Yemen, said diplomatic visits by other world powers were expected, but said the US reaffirmed its commitment to the region after a visit by Biden in July. “The important message that the president has brought to the region is that the United States is not going anywhere,” Lederking told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble. It was announced on Thursday that Xi is to arrive in Saudi Arabia next week for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the Chinese premier’s first official visit abroad since 2020 – as Beijing and Riyadh seek to strengthen ties. China’s foreign ministry on Thursday neither confirmed nor denied the reports. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry and China’s foreign ministry were not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC on Friday. The fact that Xi is expected to be met with all the pomp and fanfare accorded former US President Donald Trump during his 2017 visit does little to improve the outlook for the Biden visit, which critics say was a low-key affair that he achieved little amid strained personal ties between the two leaders. However, Lenderking insisted that the US maintains a “vital” presence. “The United States is a vital partner not only for Saudi Arabia but for every one of the countries in the region,” he said. “America can be counted on to remain in the neighborhood in support of countries and their security. This is an American priority,” he added.
Conflict in Yemen
In that context, Yemen – which has been ravaged by a civil war since 2014 – is a key focus for the US, said Lenderking, whom Biden appointed as a special envoy to the country last year. Lenderking said progress toward resolving the conflict was a major achievement for Biden during his visit last month. This included persuading Saudi Arabia to extend and strengthen a UN-brokered ceasefire and join talks to end the war. As a result, the conflict is now halfway to resolution, Lenderking said. Yemen has been waging a civil war between the Yemeni government and the armed Houthi movement since 2014. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images “I think we’re better than 50%, I wouldn’t have said that six months ago,” he said. “We have a moment to change the course of the conflict. This is the time to do it.” He added that Yemen is a crisis in which adversarial relations can otherwise be overlooked and welcomed cooperation with China and Russia in this area. China wants “to see progress in Yemen during its presidency of the Security Council,” Lenderking said, referring to Beijing’s current role as head of the United Nations Security Council. “I think this is an important element where we can find common ground between us – China, Russia, the United States – working together for a political solution to the conflict in Yemen,” he added.
Growing nuclear risks in the region
Lenderking also noted that Iran, with which the US shares a long history of fractured relations, could play a constructive role in resolving the conflict in Yemen. However, he said this was not a condition for a resolution.
CNBC Politics
Read more about CNBC’s political coverage: It comes amid ongoing talks between the US and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Asked if he thought it was possible to see nuclear weapons in countries like Iran and potentially other countries in the region, Lederking said: “I think that would be unfortunate. I hope not.” Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify that Lenderking was asked if he thought it was possible to see nuclear weapons in countries including Iran.
