In this Saturday, May 20, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting, in Riyadh.
US President Donald Trump has vetoed a move by congress to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
The move is the latest in a long line of measures taken by the Republican leader to back Saudi Arabia, despite objections by his own officials and members of his party.
While Saudi Arabia has received widespread condemnation for abuses, such as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the war in Yemen, and the blockade of Qatar, it has always relied on Trump to have its back.
Here are some of those occasions:
Vetoing a congressional resolution to end US involvement in Yemen
After both houses of Congress passed a resolution seeking to end US involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, Trump said: “This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future.”
According to the US laws, if the president vetoes a resolution, it will be sent back to both chambers, where it must pass with a two-thirds majority.
Blocking attempts to stop arms sale to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one the largest arms importers in the world, and one of the biggest purchasers of US weapons.
Trump blamed civilian casualties caused by the Saudis on their lack of knowledge on ‘how to use the US-made bombs,’ and he has refused to say whether Washington would review arms sales to Riyadh.
"I think it's a terrible situation. I hated seeing what happened with the bus and the children cause that's pure — that's a horror show when you see a thing like that, you saw the bus."
The Saudi-led coalition has killed tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians in air raids without severe repercussions.
During the Trump’s presidency the US had contracted at least $110 billion arms deal between Washington and Riyadh.
Silence after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder
The murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018, sent shockwaves across the world. With the CIA concluding that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was directly responsible.
Trump however, has publicly contradicted, the agency’s finding, asserting that it was a ‘feeling’ rather than a conclusion.
Supporting Gulf states during the Qatar blockade
When Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE, cut off ties with Qatar in June 2017, many countries rushed to resolve the diplomatic spat.
The Saudis accused the Qataris of supporting terrorist groups, a charge Doha vehemently rejected.
Instead of calming the situation, Trump tweet in favour of the blockade.
“During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar - look!” He wrote.
His diplomats took a slightly more nuanced view, with his then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly intervening to stop a Saudi invasion of the Gulf emirate.
Copyright © 2024 TRT World.