Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, 48, attended the elite Holton-Arms School for girls in the suburbs outside Washington. On weekends, she strolled with friends on shopping trips through the Tysons Corner Center mall in Northern Virginia. Three American secretaries of state — Colin L. Powell, James A. Baker, and Madeleine Albright — were regular guests in her parents’ home.
Today, Princess Reema holds her father’s old job as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States. It has been a challenging role, especially arriving shortly after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and facing the changing dynamics between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
In the five years since her arrival, Princess Reema has worked to navigate the complexities of U.S.-Saudi relations. She has been a key player in the recent diplomatic interactions between the two countries.
Princess Reema expressed her commitment to improving relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, stating, “In the relationship that the kingdom and the U.S. have had, there have been multiple highs and multiple lows. Part of my responsibility was to remind everybody in America what the highs looked like and work collaboratively to get ourselves back there.”
Despite facing challenges, Princess Reema has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts. She has played a role in discussions surrounding Saudi support in the oil markets, normalization of relations with Israel, and peace efforts in Yemen.
Princess Reema’s unique position as a Saudi woman promoting a new vision of the kingdom to the United States has been instrumental in soothing tensions and fostering dialogue in Washington.
Princess Reema has worked tirelessly to counter negative perceptions of Saudi Arabia in the U.S. She has engaged with lawmakers, built relationships with key figures, and promoted Saudi modernization efforts.
Her efforts have involved working with lobbying and communications firms to convey a positive image of Saudi Arabia to the American public. She has traveled extensively, met with various groups, and highlighted the kingdom’s progress in areas like gender equity and diversification.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, Princess Reema has emphasized the importance of a two-state solution and concrete commitments in any diplomatic relations with Israel. She remains firm on the kingdom’s stance, advocating for a definitive path with specific dates for resolution.
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