Middle Eastern Autocrats Embarrassed Biden at WillAmerica's supposed allies feel entitled to humiliate the president.By
Shadi Hamid JULY 21, 2022, 7 AM ET
President Joe Biden's much-touted trip to the Middle Easthis first as presidentwas almost entirely devoid of drama or excitement. It produced
no significant deliverables, nor was it meant to. To be underwhelmed, however, is to miss a more troubling story. The visit may have been pointless and performative, but it was also a major setback for American interests, confirming what many long suspected: Supposed allies can disrespect, embarrass, and undermine the United States at will.
The costs are already evident. On Saturday, less than 24 hours after Biden left the region, the United Arab Emirates
sentenced an American citizen, Asim Ghafoor, to three years in prison on nebulous charges. Ghafoor, a lawyer for the slain
Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, was detained only two days prior while transiting through Dubai International Airport.
This is the sort of thing that happens under dictatorships. But it is not the sort of thing that happens under dictatorships that are ostensibly close U.S. partners. In effect, the leaders of the UAE either are taunting Biden or are indifferent to the perception that they are taunting him. Neither of these possibilities is encouraging. Such provocations illustrate a long and enduring story in the Middle East, one in which the United States again and again proves unable to respond with any sense of purpose or self-respect. Autocrats test the limits to see how far they can go, only to find that such a limit doesn't exist.
Saudi Arabia offers an even starker example. Years ago, when Middle East hands would joke that the kingdom could get away with murder, it was merely a figure of speech. But then the Saudis really
did get away with it. Perhaps the sole memorable moment from Biden's trip was his fist bump with the Saudi crown prince and de facto leader,
Mohammed bin Salman. MBS needed only four years to rehabilitate himself after the grisly
murder of Khashoggi, in which he was directly implicated.
But the meeting wasn't merely a rehabilitation. In the
misplaced hope of easing gasoline costs at home, the American president felt he needed to go to MBS to ask him to boost oil production. This wasn't quite grovelingthe proud and stubborn Biden was unlikely to reduce himself to thatbut it was a clear demonstration of an administration ever weaker and more adrift.