A US administration official indicated that US President Joe Biden would announce $1 billion in funding for food security in the Middle East and North Africa, adding that Biden would discuss integrated missile and defense capabilities during a summit with Arab leaders.

The US official expressed hope that “OPEC will announce an increase in oil production in the coming weeks.” He also emphasized that “the normalization of Israel’s relations with the Arab countries is a separate path from the two-state solution”, noting that “Biden supports the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but this is a sovereign decision, and it will not put pressure on either one of the parties.

The President of the United States announced yesterday during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Peace Palace that “there will be a reciprocal opening of airlines between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and through consultation with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, we have been able to open our airspace to all airlines.”

Biden will meet today with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan as he concludes his first tour of the Middle East since taking office.