US actively clarifying the case of missing journalist at Saudi Arabia consulate
(Baonghean.vn) - US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held closed-door discussions in the capital Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the Arab kingdom faces public pressure over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia's state television said the two sides affirmed the importance of the US-Saudi Arabia strategic relationship.
The discussion took place on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference held in Riyadh from October 23 to 25.
Along with many officials and representatives of major financial institutions from countries such as the UK, France and Germany, the US Treasury Secretary decided not to attend this investment conference after Saudi Arabia admitted that journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in its consulate in Istanbul.
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| Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo: AP |
However, on October 23, Saudi Arabia opened the Investment Conference despite a series of politicians and top business leaders withdrawing from the conference.
The conference, called the Future Investment Initiative, was held over three days from October 23 to 25, as part of Crown Prince Salman's efforts to modernize the country's economy and reduce its dependence on oil.
Previously, on October 21, Mr. Mnuchin said that Riyadh's explanation for the death of journalist Khashoggi was a commendable first step but not enough to answer questions, and said that it was too early to consider sanctions against Riyadh at this time.
On the same day, CIA Director Gina Haspel arrived in Türkiye to coordinate the investigation into Khashoggi's death. Earlier, US President Donald Trump also said he had sent a "top intelligence official to Turkey".
In an interview with USA Today, the White House chief believes that the death of the Saudi journalist was a "failed plot" and that Saudi Arabia's request for a month to provide a full explanation is "too long".
Three weeks after the incident, US and European security agencies still do not have a complete picture of Saudi Arabia's role in the incident. Reuters (UK) quoted six US and European security officials as saying they do not know how the journalist died or where his body is.
On October 2, Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Saudi citizen and contributor to the Washington Post (USA), went missing after going to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul to complete paperwork to marry a Turkish woman. On October 20, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi died in the country's consulate in Istanbul after arguing and fighting with a group of people there.
