Nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia vows to strengthen kingdom's military defences

Michael Ratney says Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launched more than 400 cross-border attacks last year

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia briefing students with an overview of the US Department of State and US foreign policy priorities. Photo: US Department of State

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Process Frank Lowenstein. Photo: US Department of State

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Photo: US Embassy Jerusalem

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Photo: US Embassy Jerusalem

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia with former Secretary of State John Kerry. Photo: US Department of State

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia meeting with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Process Frank Lowenstein. Photo: US Department of State

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia at the 245th US Independence Day Event at US Embassy in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Photo: US Embassy Jerusalem

Michael Ratney, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia speaking at the 245th US Independence Day Event at the US Embassy Jerusalem. Photo: US Embassy Jerusalem

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Michael Ratney and US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield in the Oval Office at the White House on August 27, 2021. Reuters

President Joe Biden's pick for US ambassador to Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that he would work to strengthen the kingdom's military defences to deter cross-border attacks from Iran-backed Houthis.

Career diplomat Michael Ratney's likely confirmation to the post comes weeks before Mr Biden is due to travel to Riyadh to meet King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

At his confirmation hearing, Mr Ratney said Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched more than 400 cross-border attacks over the past year on infrastructure, schools, mosques and workplaces.

“If confirmed, I will work to strengthen Saudi defences through security co-operation and training, demonstrating the durable American commitment to our partners and allies and to our values,” Mr Ratney told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He went on to say that Iran poses a “significant threat” to US and Saudi interests, as well as those of other regional allies and partners.

“We must work with our Saudi partners to counter Iranian threats to global energy flows, regional stability and the lives of our fellow US citizens in the region,” Mr Ratney said.

Mr Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Riyadh.

During his campaign, Mr Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia “a pariah” over human rights concerns and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but the rise in oil prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced a recalibration of the relationship.

The US president is expected to ask Saudi Arabia to produce more oil to help offset soaring petrol prices that have angered consumers and made the future of the Democrats' already precarious control of Congress even more uncertain.

In an apparent nod to current realities, Mr Ratney called the bilateral relationship “complex and multifaceted”.

He called Khashoggi's murder “a heinous act” and said he would work to keep human rights in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere a “pillar” of US foreign policy.