Part 5/10:
The killing of Jamal Khashoggi in 2018—an incident linked by U.S. intelligence to MBS—marked a diplomatic crisis. The crown prince initially denied involvement but later acknowledged responsibility, positioning himself as the de facto ruler responsible for the kingdom’s policies. The incident prompted then-presidential candidate Joe Biden to call for Saudi Arabia to be treated as a pariah state. Yet, pragmatic interests—particularly energy security, defense, and technology—guided Washington's posture, leading to a pragmatic recalibration of the relationship.