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Tillerson Criticizes Saudi Arabia, Citing Its Policies in Yemen and Lebanon Tillerson Criticizes Saudi Arabia, Citing Its Policies in Yemen and Lebanon
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — The Trump administration’s infatuation with Saudi Arabia — a defining element of President Trump’s early foreign policy — is cooling.PARIS — The Trump administration’s infatuation with Saudi Arabia — a defining element of President Trump’s early foreign policy — is cooling.
The kingdom’s impetuous effort last month to foment a crisis in Lebanon was the tipping point, but administration officials have been concerned for some time about the kingdom’s embargo of Qatar and its disastrous war in Yemen.The kingdom’s impetuous effort last month to foment a crisis in Lebanon was the tipping point, but administration officials have been concerned for some time about the kingdom’s embargo of Qatar and its disastrous war in Yemen.
On Friday, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson had critical words for the Saudis.On Friday, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson had critical words for the Saudis.
“With respect to Saudi Arabia’s engagement with Qatar, how they’re handling the Yemen war that they’re engaged in, the Lebanon situation, we would encourage them to be a bit more measured and a bit more thoughtful in those actions to, I think, fully consider the consequences,” Mr. Tillerson said at a news conference at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris.“With respect to Saudi Arabia’s engagement with Qatar, how they’re handling the Yemen war that they’re engaged in, the Lebanon situation, we would encourage them to be a bit more measured and a bit more thoughtful in those actions to, I think, fully consider the consequences,” Mr. Tillerson said at a news conference at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris.
President Trump’s obvious affection for the kingdom — it was the first country he visited as president — had long muted any criticism. Mr. Tillerson, for instance, suggested on more than one occasion that he favored Qatar in its dispute with Saudi Arabia, but President Trump overruled him and made clear that he sided with the Saudis.President Trump’s obvious affection for the kingdom — it was the first country he visited as president — had long muted any criticism. Mr. Tillerson, for instance, suggested on more than one occasion that he favored Qatar in its dispute with Saudi Arabia, but President Trump overruled him and made clear that he sided with the Saudis.
On Wednesday, however, the White House released a brief statement from President Trump calling on the Saudis to stop their blockade of Yemeni ports for humanitarian reasons. Yemen is suffering what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with a lack of food and medical supplies imperiling the lives of millions.On Wednesday, however, the White House released a brief statement from President Trump calling on the Saudis to stop their blockade of Yemeni ports for humanitarian reasons. Yemen is suffering what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with a lack of food and medical supplies imperiling the lives of millions.
Mr. Tillerson made clear Friday that the end of the blockade of Yemeni ports must include commercial shipments, not just humanitarian ones, “because about 80 percent of the food comes in on commercial ships.”Mr. Tillerson made clear Friday that the end of the blockade of Yemeni ports must include commercial shipments, not just humanitarian ones, “because about 80 percent of the food comes in on commercial ships.”
He met Friday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon and President Emmanuel Macron of France. Mr. Macron’s invitation to Mr. Hariri to visit Paris in November after Mr. Hariri shocked his country by offering his resignation while visiting Saudi Arabia was the first step in unwinding the crisis.He met Friday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon and President Emmanuel Macron of France. Mr. Macron’s invitation to Mr. Hariri to visit Paris in November after Mr. Hariri shocked his country by offering his resignation while visiting Saudi Arabia was the first step in unwinding the crisis.
Western countries have since pledged to help Lebanon protect itself from other regional crises.Western countries have since pledged to help Lebanon protect itself from other regional crises.
In a speech Friday, Mr. Hariri thanked Mr. Macron for his support of Lebanon.In a speech Friday, Mr. Hariri thanked Mr. Macron for his support of Lebanon.
“Lebanon has just been through a crisis that could have affected its political, economic and security stability,” Mr. Hariri said. “It escaped thanks to its friends, many of whom are here, and to the will of its people and its representatives not to succumb to it.”“Lebanon has just been through a crisis that could have affected its political, economic and security stability,” Mr. Hariri said. “It escaped thanks to its friends, many of whom are here, and to the will of its people and its representatives not to succumb to it.”
The Saudis pushed Mr. Hariri to resign in an effort to reduce Iran’s influence in the country, but the ham-handed effort backfired, leading Lebanese and Western countries to rally to Mr. Hariri’s defense.The Saudis pushed Mr. Hariri to resign in an effort to reduce Iran’s influence in the country, but the ham-handed effort backfired, leading Lebanese and Western countries to rally to Mr. Hariri’s defense.
“I think as to Lebanon, things have worked out in a very positive way,” Mr. Tillerson said, “perhaps even more positive than before because there have been very strong statements of affirmation for Lebanon, which will only be helpful.”“I think as to Lebanon, things have worked out in a very positive way,” Mr. Tillerson said, “perhaps even more positive than before because there have been very strong statements of affirmation for Lebanon, which will only be helpful.”
Also on Friday, Mr. Tillerson said that opening an American embassy in Jerusalem, now officially regarded by the Trump administration as Israel’s capital, will take years. Many countries have castigated Mr. Trump’s decision on Jerusalem as a violation of United Nations resolutions.Also on Friday, Mr. Tillerson said that opening an American embassy in Jerusalem, now officially regarded by the Trump administration as Israel’s capital, will take years. Many countries have castigated Mr. Trump’s decision on Jerusalem as a violation of United Nations resolutions.
“This will take some time,” Mr. Tillerson said. Citing land acquisition and construction demands, he said much work remains. “So this is not something that’s going to happen this year, probably not next year,” he said.“This will take some time,” Mr. Tillerson said. Citing land acquisition and construction demands, he said much work remains. “So this is not something that’s going to happen this year, probably not next year,” he said.
Whether Mr. Tillerson’s mild criticism of the Saudis signals a broader reassessment by the Trump administration of the relationship with Saudi Arabia is far from clear. Mr. Tillerson is widely believed to have a difficult relationship with Mr. Trump, and the two have admitted to a host of differences on key policy questions.Whether Mr. Tillerson’s mild criticism of the Saudis signals a broader reassessment by the Trump administration of the relationship with Saudi Arabia is far from clear. Mr. Tillerson is widely believed to have a difficult relationship with Mr. Trump, and the two have admitted to a host of differences on key policy questions.
The White House even announced last week that Chief of Staff John F. Kelly had a plan to force out Mr. Tillerson, a plan that is widely believed to have the backing of Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law. The New York Times reported last week that Chief of Staff John F. Kelly had a plan to force out Mr. Tillerson, one widely believed to have the backing of Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law. The White House disputed the report.
Mr. Kushner has developed a close relationship with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and Mr. Kushner’s efforts to forge a Middle East peace between the Israelis and Palestinians are thought to include important contributions from Prince Mohammed.Mr. Kushner has developed a close relationship with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and Mr. Kushner’s efforts to forge a Middle East peace between the Israelis and Palestinians are thought to include important contributions from Prince Mohammed.
Mr. Tillerson and the State Department have largely been excluded from these efforts, with Mr. Tillerson more skeptical of Mr. Kushner — a skepticism that, in the aftermath of the botched Saudi move that jolted Lebanon, looks prescient.Mr. Tillerson and the State Department have largely been excluded from these efforts, with Mr. Tillerson more skeptical of Mr. Kushner — a skepticism that, in the aftermath of the botched Saudi move that jolted Lebanon, looks prescient.
If the White House’s ardor for Saudi Arabia has cooled, the Trump administration will be following a pattern forged by most of its modern predecessors. Past American presidents have come into office enthusiastic about improving ties with Saudi Arabia, only to experience considerable disappointment.If the White House’s ardor for Saudi Arabia has cooled, the Trump administration will be following a pattern forged by most of its modern predecessors. Past American presidents have come into office enthusiastic about improving ties with Saudi Arabia, only to experience considerable disappointment.