WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is close to finalising a treaty with Saudi Arabia that would commit the US to help defend the Gulf nation as part of a deal aimed at encouraging diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing US and Saudi officials. The draft treaty is modelled loosely on Washing­ton’s mutual security pact with Japan, the newspaper cited US and Saudi officials as saying. In exchange for the US commitment to help defend Saudi Arabia if it were attacked, the draft treaty would grant Washing­ton access to Saudi territory and airspace to protect US interests and regional partners, the newspaper reported. It is also intended to bind Riyadh closer to Washington by prohibiting China from building bases in the kingdom or pursuing security cooperation with Riyadh, the WSJ quoted officials as saying. The White House, the US State Department and the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Source: Wall Street Journal June 10, 2024 11:02 UTC