In a recent diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina met with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, the de facto leader of the country. The two decided to reach out to a mutual acquaintance, former President Donald Trump, during their meeting.
Graham’s visit was primarily to discuss a significant deal that the Biden Administration has been negotiating for over a year. The deal aims to normalize diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, two historical adversaries with a shared interest in isolating Iran.
President Joe Biden and his team have found an unexpected ally in Graham, who has offered to rally Republican support for the agreement. This deal could potentially include a US-Saudi defense pact and steps toward a two-state solution for Palestine.
Graham has also emerged as a crucial diplomatic conduit with Bin Salman, often referred to as MBS, and regularly updates Biden’s team on his discussions with the influential crown prince.
During their meeting, Graham and MBS had a brief, friendly conversation with Trump, which did not touch on the normalization deal, according to sources familiar with the call. This interaction highlights how Trump’s presence continues to hover over an agreement that US, Israeli, and Saudi officials view as crucial for lasting stability in the Middle East.
The proposed agreement extends the work initiated under Trump to normalize relations between the Arab world and Israel, culminating in the 2020 Abraham Accords. However, there are concerns that Trump may attempt to derail any subsequent agreement by Biden, similar to his previous efforts to dissuade congressional Republicans from supporting a bipartisan immigration deal.
Despite these concerns, sources close to Trump suggest that he is not actively seeking to obstruct any normalization deal under Biden. Instead, they say, Trump should focus on issues like inflation, the economy, and crime.
Trump’s call with MBS did not go unnoticed in the White House, but there is no evidence to suggest it has impacted the ongoing negotiations between Biden’s envoys and their Saudi counterparts.
Despite the challenges ahead, Graham remains optimistic about the deal’s prospects under Biden. He believes that Biden would have a better chance of garnering Democratic support in Congress for the agreement.
While Biden’s administration has pledged a shift in the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, the prospect of expanding one of Trump’s cornerstone foreign policy achievements has become a central focus. Graham, with his close relationships in the region, is in a unique position to assist.
However, the path to a deal has become more challenging since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. The shape of the agreement with Riyadh has shifted, with an explicit path to a two-state solution becoming a clear necessity since the attack.
Saudi Arabia also seeks a major defense pact with the US and assistance in developing its own civilian nuclear power program. The kingdom’s position is that establishing relations with Israel is contingent on ending the war in Gaza, recognizing a Palestinian state, and establishing a clear pathway towards a two-state solution.
Graham believes that this is a pivotal moment in world history and is committed to getting the deal across the finish line. He said, “This is the moment here. … I think all boats rise, Biden will get credit. Trump will get credit. I will get credit. Jake would. All of us. All boats rise. And when you look back on what did you do with your time in the Senate, this would be a worthy use of my time.”
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Alex Marquardt.