Washington - (AFP) - US President Joe Biden indicated Friday that he could visit Saudi Arabia, which constitutes a major change in his position after he promised to treat the kingdom as a "pariah" state.

The New York Times and other American media had quoted undisclosed sources that Biden would go ahead with his visit to Saudi Arabia after news spread about his intention to do so.

This came after Saudi Arabia tackled two of Biden's priorities by agreeing to increase oil production and help extend the truce in war-torn Yemen.

"I don't know the exact date of my visit. There is a possibility that I will meet the Israelis and (officials) in some Arab countries. Saudi Arabia will be part of the (tour) if I do it, but I don't have direct plans yet," Biden told reporters, when asked about media reports.

And CNN reported that Biden will meet the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 36, who was accused by US intelligence of ordering the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

The trip will reportedly take place after Biden travels to attend a NATO summit in Spain and a G7 summit in Germany later this month.

The Washington Post also reported on the visit, quoting unnamed officials, and said that the "face-to-face" meeting with the Saudi crown prince will come after several "undeclared" missions in the rich Gulf state conducted by Biden's advisor to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, and his energy envoy, Amos Hochstein. Both of them repeat their calls for an increase in crude oil production in order to reduce inflation.

Biden had pledged during his presidential campaign to treat Saudi leaders as "pariahs" after the kingdom's close relationship with his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Trump had largely shielded Saudi Arabia from the consequences by luring the US-based dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was strangled and dismembered.

Trump's son-in-law and aide, Jared Kushner, has established a close relationship with Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Shortly after assuming office, Biden ordered the publication of an intelligence report stating that the crown prince had ordered the killing of Khashoggi, and his administration imposed visa restrictions that included dozens of Saudis accused of threatening dissidents.