Why did Saudi Arabia delay congratulating Biden?

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Saudi Arabia's Delay in Congratulating President-Elect Biden

Saudi Arabia congratulated Joe Biden on his election victory more than 24 hours after he was projected to defeat Donald Trump. The delay occurred as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman maintained silence on the US election outcome, even while extending congratulations to the president of Tanzania on his re-election.
Context of Trump's Relationship with Saudi Arabia

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had cultivated a close personal relationship with then-President Donald Trump. This association with Trump had previously served as a significant buffer against international scrutiny concerning Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, its involvement in the Yemen war, and the detention of women activists.
Potential for Future Friction

The areas that had been shielded by the Trump-Saudi relationship, such as the Khashoggi murder and the Yemen conflict, are now anticipated to become points of contention between the incoming Biden administration and Saudi Arabia. President-elect Biden had pledged during his campaign to reassess the relationship with the kingdom and to demand greater accountability for these issues.
Diplomatic Signaling and Future Re-evaluation

Analysts suggest that the Biden administration is likely to signal its displeasure early on regarding Saudi domestic and foreign policies. This may lead to a re-evaluation of defense ties and efforts to end the conflict in Yemen. While a Saudi political source downplayed the risk of a significant fallout, citing the enduring historic ties between Riyadh and Washington, there is an underlying uncertainty regarding the future trajectory of US-Saudi relations under the new administration.

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Why did Saudi Arabia delay congratulating Biden?

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