Saudi Arabia is considering responding positively to Russia’s proposal for nuclear cooperation and the construction of nuclear reactors on the kingdom’s territory. So informed sources told the “New York Times”.
At the same time, the Saudi officials are renewing the pressure on the USA, their preferred partner, by offering to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for American cooperation in building nuclear reactors and other guarantees. Such a possible deal was reported last month in the American media.
According to the newspaper, the new details about the Saudi efforts contribute to the difficulties and mistrust between Riyadh and Washington, and point to the foreign policy outlined by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which includes expanding the country’s partnerships with other world powers, including China. Last month, Saudi Arabia agreed to renew its relations with Iran through the mediation of China.
On another topic: American President Joe Biden demands that Moscow “immediately release” journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on charges of spying for the United States. A court in Moscow recently decided that Gershkovich (31), who writes for the “Wall Street Journal “, will remain in custody for about two months. If convicted, he may be sent to prison for up to 20 years. At the hearing held, the journalist appeared in court and denied what was attributed to him.
In the past year Gershkovich extensively covered the war in Ukraine. He recently conducted an investigation on the Russian Wagner militia units and their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
According to the Russian Security Service, the journalist gathered information about a “military facility” in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains, and was arrested there. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakhrova announced that this is not the first time a spy has impersonated a foreign journalist, and that Gershkovich’s activities “are not related to journalism.”
On the other hand, the spokeswoman of the White House protested the arrest, saying that the accusations against Gershkovich “are ridiculous.” She added: “I want to emphasize once again that Americans should heed the warnings of the administration, and not travel to Russia. Americans who live there or are traveling in the country should leave now.”