A New Strategy to Pressure Saudi Arabia?

Two members of the Senate, one from the Democratic Party and the other from the Republican Party, have introduced a resolution that could compel President Joe Biden's administration to prepare a report on Saudi Arabia's human rights record, potentially leading to a reassessment of U.S. security assistance to the kingdom. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and Republican Senator Mike Lee introduced the resolution under a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act that allows Congress to vote to request information on human rights practices in a specific country. If the resolution is approved, the U.S. administration must submit the report within 30 days; otherwise, all security assistance to the country would automatically cease. After receiving the report, the law stipulates that Congress may adopt a joint resolution between the House and Senate to terminate or restrict security assistance to the kingdom or allow it to continue. The request did not receive an immediate response from the White House.