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Agence France-Presse

Saudi Arabia has replaced its ambassador to the United States, a royal decree announced Saturday, as the fallout over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder tests relations between the two allies.
Princess Reema bint Bandar was appointed the kingdom’s first woman envoy to Washington, replacing Prince Khalid bin Salman, who was named vice defence minister.
Prince Khalid is the younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto ruler who also serves as the defence minister.
The reshuffle comes as ties with Washington are under strain following Khashoggi’s murder last October in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi sisters on run from consular staff after renouncing Muslim faith were ‘kidnapped at Hong Kong airport’
After initially denying they knew anything of Khashoggi’s disappearance, the Saudis finally acknowledged that a team killed him inside the consulate, but described it as a rogue operation.
US lawmakers have threatened to take tougher action against Saudi Arabia over the brutal killing amid claims that the crown prince was personally responsible.
The Saudi government has strongly denied he had anything to do with the murder of Khashoggi who was a columnist with The Washington Post.
The killing refocused attention on a Saudi-led military coalition’s bombing campaign in Yemen, which is gripped by what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.


Earlier this month, the US House voted overwhelmingly to end American involvement in Saudi Arabia’s war effort in neighbouring Yemen, dealing a rebuke to President Donald Trump who has publicly thrown his support behind the crown prince.
US lawmakers this month also said they were probing whether Trump was rushing to sell sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia to please corporate supporters who stand to profit handsomely.
The House of Representatives committee has voiced fears that Saudi Arabia could convert US expertise into making a nuclear bomb, heightening already severe tensions with regional rival Iran.


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Diplomacy

Saudi Arabia replaces its US ambassador, appoints kingdom’s first woman envoy to post

Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud has been named US ambassador. Photo: Economic Forum / Boris Baldinger

Democrats probe White House plan to sell sensitive US nuclear technology to Saudis

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2017 file photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington. The Democrat-led House oversight committee launched an investigation Tuesday into whether senior officials in President Donald Trump’s White House worked to transfer nuclear power technology to Saudi Arabia as part of a deal that would financially benefit prominent Trump supporters. The proposal was pushed by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired in early 2017, but it has remained under consideration by the Trump administration despite concerns from Democrats and Republicans that Saudi Arabia could develop nuclear weapons if the U.S. technology was transferred without proper safeguards. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE PHOTO: Colony Capital CEO Thomas Barrack speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 21, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File photo

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2017. File photo: TNS

News

World

Middle East

Princess Reema bint Bandar will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman, who has been named vice defence minister
Appointment comes during period of strained relations between two countries


Princess Reema bint Bandar will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman, who has named vice defence minister.


Saudi Arabia

US Politics

Jamal Khashoggi killing

Oman

Saudi Arabia replaces its US ambassador, appoints kingdom’s first woman envoy to post

Princess Reema bint Bandar will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman, who has been named vice defence minister Appointment comes during period of strained relations between two countries

Princess Reema bint Bandar will replace Prince Khalid bin Salman, who has been named vice defence minister

Appointment comes during period of strained relations between two countries