As international pressure mounted against Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of Washington Post journalist and Saudi royal insider-turned-critic, Jamal Khashoggi, the kingdom came out swinging on Sunday, threatening to retaliate against the United States if it were to implement sanctions.
Khashoggi, who is a columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée.
Turkish authorities have said they believe 15 Saudi men who arrived in Istanbul on October 2 are connected to Khashoggi’s disappearance and possible death. Some of the men appear to have connections in the Saudi government.
A source familiar with the investigation into the journalist’s death told CNN that Turkish authorities have audio and video evidence that Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate.
The journalist’s disappearance has drawn condemnation from the international community, with President Donald Trump warning Saturday that there could be “severe punishment” if the Saudis are behind Khashoggi’s death.
Germany, Britain and France demanded a “credible investigation” on Sunday, saying “light must be shed” on Khashoggi’s disappearance.
“Germany, the United Kingdom and France share the grave concern expressed by others including HRVP [Federica] Mogherini and UNSG [Antonio] Guterres, and are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness. There needs to be a credible investigation to establish the truth about what happened, and -- if relevant -- to identify those bearing responsibility for the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, and ensure that they are held to account,” the countries said in a joint statement.
“We encourage joint Saudi-Turkish efforts in that regard, and expect the Saudi Government to provide a complete and detailed response. We have conveyed this message directly to the Saudi authorities.”
British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, in a separate statement, called on Saudi Arabia to explain what happened to Khashoggi at the consulate, saying, “If they have got nothing to hide, then they will and should cooperate.”
“If, as they say, this terrible murder didn't happen, then where is Jamal Khashoggi? That's what the world wants to know,” Hunt told UK Pool.
In a press release Sunday from the official Saudi Press Agency, the kingdom rejected any political pressure of economic sanctions, saying it would “respond with greater action.”
In an op-ed published later Sunday, Turki Aldakhil, general manager of the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel, warned the United States that if it imposed sanctions it would “stab its own economy to death,” causing oil prices to skyrocket and leading Saudi Arabia to allow Russia to have military base in the city of Tabuk, CNN reports.
“The information circulating within decision-making circles within the kingdom have gone beyond the rosy language used in the statement,” Aldakhil wrote, referring to Saudi Arabia’s earlier comments.
“There are simple procedures, that are part of over 30 others, that Riyadh will implement directly, without flinching an eye if sanctions are imposed,” he said.
“If US sanctions are imposed on Saudi Arabia, we will be facing an economic disaster that would rock the entire world,” he added.
In the fallout of Khashoggi’s disappearance, international companies have already withdrawn from a high-profile investment summit that was set to take place later this month Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, The Huffington Post reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to confirm on Saturday if U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will be attending the Future Investment Initiative conference being hosted by the Saudi Crown Prince later this month.
“I think we need to continue to evaluate the facts and we'll make that decision -- I talked to Secretary Mnuchin about it last night, we'll be taking a look at it through the rest of the week,” Pompeo told reporters in the Oval Office on Saturday.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington D.C. tweeted a statement on Sunday, writing, “To help clarify recently issued Saudi statement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends its appreciation to all, including the US administration, for refraining from jumping to conclusions on the ongoing investigation.”