Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Saturday he was confident that Democrat Joe Biden's incoming US administration would pursue policies that help regional stability and that any discussions with it would bolster cooperation.
Riyadh is bracing itself for a new US president who has pledged on the election campaign trail to reassess ties with Saudi Arabia, a state Biden described as a "pariah" in 2019.
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Speaking on the sidelines of a virtual meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 major economies, which his country is hosting, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said, "I'm confident that a Biden administration would continue to pursue policies that are in the interest of regional stability."
He said, "Any discussions we will have with the future administration will lead to strong cooperation."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman enjoyed close personal ties with President Donald Trump and their relationship provided a buffer against international criticism over Riyadh's record following the murder of Saudi journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's role in the war in Yemen, and the country's detention of women's rights activists.
Those areas may now become points of friction between Biden and Saudi Arabia, a major oil exporter and buyer of US arms.
Prince Faisal emphasized the 75-year history of "strong defense cooperation" between the two countries and said he expected it to continue.
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