By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC TIMES 

Saudi Arabia is in a diplomatic nightmare as it scrambles to explain to the world what happened to missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The situation is also stretching diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the United States to the limit. It is no secret that Saudi Arabia has enjoyed a deep, intimate relationship with the current U.S  Trump administration. The “special relationship” has also extended to most of the other administrations before Trump, due to the Kingdom being a critical American security partner in the Middle East and key supplier of oil.  However, that “special relationship” is in jeopardy as President Trump vows to uncover the truth over the disappearance of Khashoggi, who is a Saudi Arabian citizen and U.S. resident. 

Trump has demanded top political leaders of the kingdom to explain how Khashoggi, who has been critical of Saudi leaders, disappeared after he  walked into the consulate in Istanbul to get documents he needed to get married. Turkey authorities accused Saudi Arabia of murdering Khashoggi inside the consulate in Instanbul and dismembering his body. Saudi Arabia quickly responded that the accusation is “a lie”.  Trump promised there  would be “severe punishment” if Saudi Arabia is found to be involved.

“Could it be them? Yes,” he said. “In the not too distant future I think we’ll know an answer,” Trump told CBS News in an a “60 Minutes” interview that will air on Sunday. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment.”

U.N. Secretary General Demands “Truth” From Saudis over Journalist

The head of the United Nations has also demanded “the truth” over the disappearance of the Khashoggi. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the BBChe feared such disappearances would happen more regularly and become a “new normal”. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany have also demanded a “credible” investigation into the journalist’s  disappearance. 

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a statement categorically denying that Khashoggi had been abducted or killed by Saudi authorities.

“I know that many people here in Washington and around the world are concerned about his fate but I assure you that all reports 
saying that Jamal Khashoggi vanished in the [Saudi] consulate in Istanbul or that the kingdom’s authorities detained or killed him are completely false and baseless,” Prince Khalid said.

Saudi Arabia Has Enjoyed Its Key Relationship With The United States