Editorial 1: Reset with Riyadh
Context
The United States appears to have decoupled its West Asia strategy for Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Introduction
The evolving U.S.–Saudi engagement marks a decisive shift in Washington’s West Asia strategy, where strategic interests, energy security, and emerging technologies outweigh earlier political tensions. By recalibrating ties with Riyadh after years of strain, the United States signals its intent to build a direct, interest-driven partnership, treating Saudi Arabia as a pivotal actor independent of the Israel normalisation track.
Saudi–U.S. Reset Under MBS: Key Developments
Warming of Ties after a Diplomatic Chill
- Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit signalled a clear end to the brief downturn in Saudi–U.S. relations.
- Relations had worsened after the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence later said was approved by MBS.
- Despite earlier strong statements, Joe Biden eventually moved to rehabilitate MBS, including his 2022 Jeddah visit and a now-symbolic fist bump.
- Donald Trump, architect of the Abraham Accords, defended MBS’s human rights record and pledged major arms sales, including F-35s and tanks.
- Saudi Arabia will also gain access to advanced U.S. computer chips, supporting MBS’s plan for massive data centres and a regional tech powerhouse.
Long-standing Strategic Alignment
- Historically, Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has rarely shaped its ties with Washington, which were rooted in energy and geopolitics.
- Strains such as the 1973 oil shock, post-9/11 distrust, and the Khashoggi fallout never fundamentally altered strategic cooperation.
Israel as a Persistent Complication
- Israel, America’s closest regional ally, still has no formal diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia.
- After the Abraham Accords, the Biden administration sought Saudi participation, and by September 2023negotiations were said to be advanced.
- The October 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s Gaza war froze the process.
- Saudi Arabia now insists any normalisation requires a credible, time-bound two-state roadmap, a condition Israel rejects.
Trump’s Shift: Decoupling Riyadh from Normalisation Pressure
- Trump appears to recognise the regional complexities and Israel’s unwillingness to compromise.
- He seems ready to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia independently, without immediate pressure to recognise Israel.
- Effectively, the U.S. under Trump has de-hyphenated Saudi Arabia from the Abraham Accords, focusing on direct strategic engagement with Riyadh as part of wider West Asia plans.
Conclusion
America’s outreach to Riyadh reflects a deliberate move to craft a de-hyphenated policy that deepens bilateral cooperation without tying it to immediate Israel–Saudi normalisation. This approach acknowledges regional complexities, Saudi Arabia’s rising geopolitical weight, and shifting global power equations. Ultimately, Washington seeks a more flexible, interest-first framework that positions the kingdom as central to its broader West Asia recalibration.