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Hope, despair in Yemen as Biden travels to Saudi Arabia

Ahead of the US president's Saudi trip, Yemenis are feeling a mixture of optimism and gloom about its likely benefits for them.
AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images

US President Joe Biden’s Saudi trip is expected to usher in a new phase of cooperation and partnership between the two countries after a year and a half of tensions between the current US administration and the Saudi leadership.

While the kingdom has been a longtime US ally, the former’s human rights record, including its military engagement in Yemen, has damaged its image before many world leaders. Biden had pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” after the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

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