Washington And Saudi Arabia Remain Core Allies
Despite Saudi disappointment with US President Barack Hussein Obama’s push for a nuclear deal with Iran , the US role in Riyadh’s war in Yemen shows Washington remains the Kingdom’s core ally
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will meet US President Barack Obama in Washington, DC Friday, aiming to push him for more support in Riyadh’s efforts to counter Iran after it agreed to a nuclear deal that will relieve Tehran of some international pressure.
Despite Saudi disappointment with Mr. Obama’s push for a nuclear deal with Iran and his lack of direct action against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the US role in Riyadh’s war in Yemen shows Washington remains the Kingdom’s core strategic partner.
“The relationship is entering a new phase. It is still a partnership, but Saudi Arabia is becoming more independent. And I think the Americans like that. They are not objecting to our active foreign policy, but cooperating with us on that front,” said Jamal Khashoggi, head of al-Arab News Channel, owned by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
The relationship, a mainstay of the Middle East’s security balance, has suffered turbulence since Riyadh faulted what it saw as Mr. Obama’s withdrawal from the region, and a perceived tilt toward Iran since the Y 2011 Arab uprisings.
Since King Salman took power in January, he abandoned Riyadh’s traditional reliance on Washington to do the heavy lifting in Middle East security, instead embarking on a war in Yemen and boosting support for rebels against Assad in Syria.
It showed both Riyadh’s increasing sense of independence, and willingness to work with regional allies instead of Washington. But it also a more transactional approach to relations with the United States.
Unlike at some earlier points in the relationship, cooperation now appears to be limited, either to instances where interests directly overlap, or to support in one area in exchange for another.
Mr. Obama has been keen for Washington’s allies to take on a bigger role in regional security issues as part of his efforts to reduce American involvement in the Middle East’s many conflicts.
Riyadh is convinced that Iran is bent on achieving regional hegemony through proxy militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, thereby destabilising the entire region and undermining the Kingdom’s stability.
Washington, while critical of Iran’s regional role, does not see it in such dire terms.
The next big test of ties between the 2 countries is likely to be in Syria, where Saudi Arabia has frequently described Pres. Assad’s use of air raids and artillery on civilian areas as genocidal, and has described Iran’s support for militias there as constituting an occupation.
While Mr. Obama has said Mr. Assad can have no role in Syria’s future, his bigger focus has been on the militant threat posed by IS.
While Riyadh helped corral regional states to join U.S.-led air strikes against IS in Syria last year, it has been disappointed by Washington’s limited efforts to train and arm non-jihadist rebel groups.
Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar and Turkey, appears to have stepped up the backing of rebel groups this year, helping them to achieve advances against Mr. Assad. If its Yemen campaign succeeds, with American help, Riyadh may be emboldened to increase that support.
Stay tuned…
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Paul Ebeling
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