US President Donald Trump has strongly defended ties with Saudi Arabia despite international condemnation of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
The kingdom is a “steadfast partner” that has agreed to invest “a record amount of money” in the US, Mr Trump said in a statement.
The president acknowledged Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “could very well” have known about Khashoggi’s murder.
“In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Mr Khashoggi was murdered on 2 October on a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi Arabia has blamed the killing on rogue agents but denied claims that the crown prince had knowledge of the operation.
However, the CIA reportedly believes Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder.
Mr Trump’s statement said: “[It] could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”
In an interview on Sunday, the president Fox News that he had refused to listen to a recording of Khashoggi’s murder provided by Turkey, calling it “a suffering tape”.
What does the statement say?
“The world is a very dangerous place!”, Mr Trump states, before holding up Saudi Arabia as an ally of the US against Iran.
The kingdom spent “billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism” whereas Iran has “killed many Americans and other innocent people throughout the Middle East”, it says.
The statement also stresses Saudi investment pledges and arms purchases. “If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries,” it adds.
While admitting the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was “terrible”, Mr Trump wrote that “we may never know all of the facts” about his death.
“The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed Mr Trump, saying after talks with the Turkish foreign minister that “it’s a mean, nasty world out there” and that the president was “obliged to adopt policies that further America’s national security”.
Who are the Saudis blaming?
Last week the Saudi public prosecutor blamed the murder on an unnamed intelligence officer who was allegedly tasked with persuading Khashoggi to return to the Gulf kingdom.
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A total of 11 people have been charged over the murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of them.
Their cases have been referred to a court while investigations into another 10 people suspected of involvement continue.
Where does the US stand on the murder?
Although the CIA is not said to have direct evidence linking Mohammed bin Salman to the murder, officials reportedly believe it could not have taken place without his approval.
But at the weekend, the state department said the US government was yet to reach a final conclusion on the killing, with “numerous unanswered questions” remaining.
The US – along with major powers such as France and Britain – has continued to sell arms to Saudi Arabia.
But on Monday the German government said it was blocking all arms deliveries to the kingdom, even those that had been previously approved.
