By Gregory Clary, CNNPresident Joe Biden has defended his controversial visit to Saudi Arabia next week, saying the trip is critical to the security of the United States. “As president, it is my job to keep our country strong and secure. “To do these things, we have to engage directly with countries that can impact those outcomes. The President’s visit has drawn criticism given that US intelligence has deemed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for ordering the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He touted US security assistance for the country in his op-ed, while also noting, “Working with Congress, my administration restored approximately $500 million in support for Palestinians.”Biden is set to travel to the region on Wednesday.