US President Joe Biden has referred to Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its airspace to all airlines that “meet its requirements”. “Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to open its airspace to all civilian aircraft, including those flying to and from Israel, is an important step towards building a more integrated and stable Middle East region,” Biden said in a White House statement.
“Although this opening has been doomed for a long time, now, thanks to months of stable diplomacy between my administration and Saudi Arabia, it is finally a reality. Today I will be the first President of the United States to fly from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia can help build momentum for Israel’s further integration in the region, including with Saudi Arabia. I will do my best, through direct diplomacy and leader-to-leader involvement, to continue to advance this groundbreaking process,” the president added.