Postponement of US Defense Secretary's visit to Saudi Arabia

[The SC]

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday, but his spokesman, John Kirby, says the visit has been postponed due to “scheduling issues.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1435670758592761876

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: we didn't get a new time to visit Saudi Arabia..

He visited all the Gulf countries, except for the Emirates, because it was not included in the schedule of visits. The last country on his schedule was Saudi Arabia..but it didn't happen..!?

 

[The SC]

03 September 2021

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait next week, the Pentagon said on Friday, in a "thank you" tour for allies and troops that helped in the massive U.S.-led airlift from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover..

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...t-Saudi-Arabia-other-Gulf-countries-next-week


Austin was apparently coming to Riyadh to try to stop any cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia in the defense field.. and on top of that..There is an urgent wish from the Americans for Saudi Arabia to host pro-US Afghan refugees fleeing Afghanistan..But Saudi Arabia does not want to alienate Taliban by doing this.. It is keeping its neutrality as was announced officially..

What is apparent now is that the Saudi message reached the Pentagon because of the heresy in the White House and some of the current Congress..

As for the story of a schedule change, it is empty talk .. Visits of this kind are arranged for at least two to three weeks in advance..

Lloyd Austin, in particular, have had a bad relationship with KSA for a long time..

 

[Ziri]

03 September 2021

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait next week, the Pentagon said on Friday, in a "thank you" tour for allies and troops that helped in the massive U.S.-led airlift from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover..

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/...t-Saudi-Arabia-other-Gulf-countries-next-week


Austin was apparently coming to Riyadh to try to stop any cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia in the defense field.. and on top of that..There is an urgent wish from the Americans for Saudi Arabia to host pro-US Afghan refugees fleeing Afghanistan..But Saudi Arabia does not want to alienate Taliban by doing this.. It is keeping its neutrality as was announced officially..

What is apparent now is that the Saudi message reached the Pentagon because of the heresy in the White House and some of the current Congress..

As for the story of a schedule change, it is empty talk .. Visits of this kind are arranged for at least two to three weeks in advance..

Lloyd Austin, in particular, have had a bad relationship with KSA for a long time..

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is going to KSA and other GCC countries to get his gift money.
Look at the Historical Saudi Arabia Military Spending/Defense Budget during the last 10 years ; Astonighing !

Saudi Arabia Military Spending/Defense Budget - Historical Data
Year Billions US $ % of GDP
2019 $61.87B 7.98%
2018 $74.40B 9.51%
2017 $70.40B 10.22%
2016 $63.67B 9.87%
2015 $87.19B 13.33%
2014 $80.76B 10.68%
2013 $67.02B 8.98%
2012 $56.50B 7.68%
2011 $48.53B 7.23%

 

[Microsoft]

This guy is an embarrassment hopefully he's being replaced and that's why the visit is postponed.