Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia on historic visit, meets King Salman

President Joe Biden touched down in Saudi Arabia on Friday, working to improve ties with the nation as well as address other challenges, including rising petrol prices and regional issues.

It is Biden's first visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office, and also his first meeting with the kingdom's crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Biden was met King Salman at the Royal Palace where he shook hands with the monarch. After that, the US President will participate in a larger meeting that would include the Crown Prince and other senior Saudi officials, as well as the president’s top advisers.

The major question, important far beyond the day, is whether the 79-year-old U.S. president and the 36-year-old Saudi royal can reaffirm the longstanding strategic partnership between their two countries.

The future of the region, including the possibility of closer ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as the ebb and flow of the world’s oil supply hang in the balance.

Asked if Biden would shake hands with MBS, a senior administration official demurred and noted the White House is “focused on the meetings, not the greetings.”

Biden arrived in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on the third day of a four-day swing through the Middle East. He spent the first two days meeting with Israeli officials and travelled to the West Bank on Friday to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and others before flying to Saudi Arabia.