by Giuseppe Sarcina
The republican senator, one of the most influential in America: «Abandoning Kiev would be a mistake, like withdrawing from Afghanistan. No gift to Putin: Crimea is part of Ukraine.” The indiscretion: «The Saudis could recognize Israel early next year»
FROM OUR REPORTER
CERNOBBIO – A piece of news: “Early next year the Saudis could recognize Israel.” A reassurance: «If Trump wins the elections, the United States will continue to support Ukraine». Finally, a warning: «With Trump, NATO would be even stronger, but European countries will have to spend more to contribute to common defence». Lindsey Graham, 68, is one of America’s most influential senators. For a long time in Congress he worked in tandem with John McCain. Then he endorsed Trump, who he says he has “spent a lot of time with.” The South Carolina senator talks about it with Corriere, on the sidelines of «Teha», the forum organized by The European House Ambrosetti, in Cernobbio.
Let’s start with the news. Can you confirm the rumors of a comprehensive deal between the US and Saudi Arabia?
«We have a good chance of reaching an agreement in early 2024. The Saudis are asking us for a commitment to common defense, nuclear technology for civilian use and a series of economic pacts. These are all things we can do. And Biden can count on the broad consensus of the Senate: there are 67 votes in favor on a bipartisan basis (out of 100, ed). In return, Saudi Arabia will recognize Israel. A historic turning point that will change the Middle East forever».
And the Palestinians?
“They must also participate in the agreement.”
How? The solution of coexistence between “two States”, Palestine and Israel, does not seem so practicable…
“Yes, it’s complicated. But the Saudis will guarantee many other Palestinian demands. It’s still a matter of negotiation.”
The CIA accuses Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman of being behind the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Look, I too was very critical at the time. But the challenge today is to push Saudi Arabia to change. I’ve been there several times over the last few months. They are making progress. Women can drive and leave the house without being escorted by a man. It is a path to be encouraged…”.
A path paved with petrodollars, right?
“Saudi Arabia is putting a trillion dollars of investment on the table. They can really change the country and the Middle East only with the help of the West, not just the Americans. Trump understood that.”
Here we are at Trump then. Will he win the November 2024 election?
“I look at the polls. I think it will be a very close race. Really. With chances divided by 50%».
But Trump risks going to jail for trying to overturn the election result.
“It is unlikely that the trials will be held before the election, and in any case the majority of Republicans believe that these inquiries are politically motivated.”
Do you believe it too?
«Well, here the judges on the court are liberals…»
On January 6, 2021, you were inside Congress as Trumpians stormed it…
“And whoever did it must go to jail. There is no doubt. But Trump did not have a direct role.
We’ll see how the trials end up. Let’s imagine Trump in the Oval Office again. Will he cut military aid to Ukraine?
“I do not believe. The best way to predict what Trump will do is to look at what he did when he was in the White House. I remember him at one point he wanted to withdraw our military from Afghanistan. I pledged, with others, to change his mind, telling him: if we get out of there, the threats to our national security will increase. Trump was convinced. Then Biden decided to retreat, leaving behind a landscape of desolation. Here, if we abandoned Ukraine, we would commit Biden’s mistake cubed ».
The Republican Party, however, is divided…
«True, Europe is too. But the majority of conservatives are for going ahead and supporting Ukraine to victory. In the Senate, for example, we can say that about 70% of Republicans are on this line”.
Biden, however, would also be exploring ways for negotiation, without easing the shipment of arms. What do you think?
«There is a fixed point on which I believe there is broad consensus: we cannot conclude an agreement that rewards Putin. We cannot allow him to get away with his army committing massacre, rape, looting in Ukraine. If we give up now, Putin will be stronger than ever and we would have set the stage for another aggression. I would add: if we don’t link Ukraine’s aggression to what could happen to Taiwan (undermined by China, ed) we will miss out on a lot of the global scenario».
The Pentagon seems to be quite skeptical about the possibility that the Ukrainians can reconquer all the occupied territories, especially the Crimea…
«I believe, however, that within a year the Ukrainian army will make substantial progress. As for Crimea, there can be no doubts: it is an integral part of Ukraine».
Can it be returned to Kiev with a political-diplomatic formula?
«I am open to creative formulas. We can discuss it. Provided they don’t represent a clean slate. I repeat: no prizes, no gifts to Putin.”
September 2, 2023 (change September 2, 2023 | 21:42)
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2023-09-02 19:44:22
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