US-Saudi defense agreement: What is Riyadh looking for?
The American weekly Newsweek wrote: The agreement, modeled on last month’s US-Qatar agreement, would deepen security and military cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia and have broad implications for Middle East stability and America’s strategic position in the world.
Why is this agreement important?
The proposed agreement reflects the efforts of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to protect and preserve America in the long term. He is in charge of Saudi political and military decisions and has made a formal security agreement with the US a key priority for Riyadh.
Newsweek added, citing a report on the same subject in the Financial Times newspaper: “For Washington, the agreement strengthens its influence in the Gulf and amid the increasing involvement of China and Russia in the region through partnerships in the energy, investment, and security sectors. The agreement would also affect efforts to normalize Arab relations with Israel, including Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords.”
Trump recently expressed hope that the Ibrahim Accords would soon be expanded, and he has identified Saudi Arabia as a key player in the process.
Riyadh is also reportedly hoping to finalize the agreement when the crown prince visits the White House next month.
People familiar with the talks expect the deal to strengthen strategic cooperation, joint defense planning and counterterrorism operations between the two countries.
A US administration official (who was not named in the report) confirmed to the Financial Times that “there are discussions about signing an agreement when the crown prince visits the United States, but the details are subject to change.”
The White House and the State Department have not issued official statements on the matter, although the US diplomatic establishment has described the US-Saudi defense cooperation as “a strong foundation for our regional strategy.”
Washington has said it will continue to work with Saudi Arabia to resolve disputes, help promote regional unity, and prevent safe havens for terrorists.
The Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to Newsweek’s request for comment on the deal.
Qatar deal
The United States and Qatar signed a defense agreement last month that would see any attack on the country as a threat to “peace and security” in the United States. The agreement came days after attacks on Hamas political leaders in Doha heightened concerns about escalating tensions in the region.
A similar deal with Riyadh would be a significant shift in U.S. policy in the region, restoring traditional U.S. security ties with Saudi Arabia after years of tension, while also reviving the prospect of the Abraham Accords as a framework for U.S. mediation to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020, Newsweek wrote.