The White House has formally announced that President Biden will visit Saudi Arabia next month, as well as Israel and the occupied West Bank. Biden is expected to meet with both Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. As a candidate, Biden pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” following the brutal assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. But the president has taken a different stance in recent months as global gas prices soared. The talks in Saudi Arabia are expected to focus on oil production, the war in Yemen and other regional issues. Some Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Dick Durbin, are criticizing Biden’s decision to travel to Saudi Arabia.