The Takeaway: Biden, Arab leaders to discuss 'innovative' approaches to regional cooperation at Saudi summit
Also: Israeli tourists leave Turkey over Iran threat; Sadr withdraws from Iraqi parliament; Lebanon’s water crisis impacts electricity; Syria’s wheat shortage; Al-Azhar slams Disney’s gay characters; all in less than 1,400 words.
Our take: Biden, GCC+3 Summit to offer ‘innovative initiatives’ for region
US President Joe Biden, asked on June 12 about whether his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia July 15-16 had anything to do with energy, responded, "No, the commitments from the Saudis don't relate to anything to do with energy. … It happens to be a larger meeting taking place in Saudi Arabia. That’s the reason I’m going. And it has to do with national security for them – (and) for (the) Israelis."
At the "larger meeting," which will include the six heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, the US will discuss "new and promising" ways of cooperating, according to a White House official.
With that in mind, here are five trends we are watching ahead of Biden’s Saudi trip and the GCC+3 summit:
