Reinforcing US hegemonyOn the campaign trail, Biden pledged that as president he would make the Saudi kingdom a “pariah” for the killing of Khashoggi. He also said he would not sell more weapons to Saudi Arabia.But it appears that the benefits of thawing of relations outweigh such promises.The unnamed senior White House official who briefed media said that while the administration imposed the so-called “Khashoggi ban” on more than 70 Saudi individuals and entities, rekindling ties is critical.“While we recalibrate relations, we’re not seeking to rupture relations, because Saudi Arabia has been a strategic partner of the United States for eight decades,” the official said Tuesday.Saudi Arabia is also the United States’ largest arms customer, accounting for a quarter of US weapons sold world

Biden hopes to preside over Israel-Saudi wedding | The Electronic Intifada