Joe Biden gives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hearty handshake a year after awkward fist bump
- The US president warmly greeted the kingdom’s de facto leader at the G20 summit in India, in sharp contrast with the last time the two met
- Biden once vowed ‘pariah’ status for the Saudis over issues like Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, but other issues have since eclipsed such concerns
The Saudi crown prince once vilified by President Joe Biden has been elevated from a fist bump to a hearty handshake.
Biden warmly greeted Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, after they appeared together along with several other leaders at the Group of 20 summit Saturday in New Delhi.
The leaders had gathered to announce an ambitious plan to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe.
Biden smiled and shook hands with the crown prince, who is often referred to by his initials MBS, as the announcement wrapped up. This year’s G20 host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, quickly draped his own hand over their hands.
The cordial greeting was a sharp contrast to the last time Biden and the crown prince met, just over a year ago, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
