Saudi Arabia seeks closer cooperation with US under Trump’s presidency - Expert
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Saudi Arabia wants to establish closer cooperation with the United States during Donald Trump’s presidency. Under Joe Biden, relations between the two countries were far from a priority for Washington, according to an RBC-Ukraine article titled "Under Iran's nose. Why Trump pacifying Middle East and how it will affect Russia-Ukraine war."
Saudi Arabia entered the Trump administration with massive expectations, hoping that he'd sell it weapons and technologies the US had previously denied and, most of all, back it in developing a nuclear program and providing certain defense guarantees. In exchange, Riyadh is willing to pay significant costs,” Ilan Zalayat, a Research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, told RBC-Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia has already announced that it will invest $600 billion in the US over the next four years in exchange for weapons and technology from Trump.
Additionally, Saudi leadership has indirectly confirmed its readiness to help lower oil prices.
"the position of the kingdom and OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) was aimed at ensuring long-term market stability to guarantee sufficient supply for growing demand, particularly from the United States and artificial intelligence," said Saudi Minister of Economy Faisal Alibrahim at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
However, there are limitations to this issue. Saudi Arabia is implementing the ambitious Vision 2030 modernization program, which aims to reform the country's economy to reduce its dependence on oil. Most of the country’s "free" funds have been allocated to this program.
US-Saudi relations
During his presidency, Joe Biden imposed restrictions on selling precision-guided munitions and other weapons. This was an attempt to pressure Saudi Arabia into ending its military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
Biden also criticized Saudi Arabia on human rights issues and had poor personal relations with the de facto ruler of the country, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As a result, Riyadh has long refused to increase oil production despite repeated requests from Biden’s team.
Donald Trump’s approach to Saudi Arabia significantly differs from that of his predecessor.
After his inauguration, Trump announced that his first foreign trip might be to Saudi Arabia to strengthen economic cooperation.
Furthermore, Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the venue for peace negotiations on Ukraine. The country's leadership has stated that it is not only ready to provide a platform for the meeting but also willing to serve as a mediator between the US and Russia.
