US-Saudi Arabia: A 'broken marriage'?

(Baonghean.vn)ButOn April 20th, President Barack Obama made a visit.2The trip was to Saudi Arabia, a close ally of the United States for over 70 years. However,,The reality is that one of Washington's oldest allies in the Middle East has long ceased to share common interests and values..And Obama's trip was seen as a special "mission" to salvage the relationship that hadno moreThe close relationship between Washington and Riyadh.

Saudi Arabian officials welcome President Obama at Riyadh's international airport. Photo: Reuters.

President Obama did not receive a grand welcome from Saudi Arabia, with only a small delegation of low-ranking officials greeting him at Riyadh airport, and Saudi state television did not broadcast images of the White House leader disembarking from the plane to begin his visit to the country.

Senior Saudi Arabian officials have made it clear that relations with the US can only improve after Obama leaves office. Saudi Arabia was quite angry when the US administration under President Obama approved the historic nuclear deal with Iran. Riyadh believes that the next US president could restore Saudi Arabia's position as a key US ally in the Middle East.

Is Saudi Arabia an ally of the United States?

Understanding the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is not as simple as examining the relationship between the US and other close democratic nations like the United Kingdom or Canada.

Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern country with a dictatorial regime that discriminates against women, does not allow religious freedom, and suppresses freedom of the press. It is also the birthplace of Wahhabism, with its rigid belief that "there is no god but Allah."

However, Saudi Arabia is not an Islamic State. The kingdom does not seek to undermine religious order, finance terrorism against the West, or establish an Islamic Caliphate. On the contrary, Saudi Arabia has been a victim of jihadist terrorists, and its officials are working closely with the US to combat al-Qaeda in Yemen and participating in the military coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

However, behind these noble purposes, Saudi Arabia is accused of harboring terrorist groups operating in Syria, such as ISIS and the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate. Saudi Arabia's oil money and its vicious Wahhabi ideology provide fertile ground for these extremist groups. Most recently, Riyadh's threat to sell hundreds of billions of dollars worth of US assets if the US officially sues it for involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks has highlighted the growing rift in bilateral relations.

The US visit to Saudi Arabia comes amid strained relations with the alliance. Photo: AP.

Are US and Saudi Arabian interests fundamentally divergent?

The major deal that would have allowed the U.S. access to Saudi Arabian oil in exchange for a U.S. commitment to guarantee Riyadh's security from external threats has broken down, despite the Obama administration selling nearly $100 million worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Significant disagreements remain between the two countries on core issues such as Syria, Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Egypt, and regional democratization.

Riyadh's suspicions and distrust are further fueled by the fact that the US is no longer as keen on its traditional allies in the Gulf but is more open to Iran.

Is Saudi Arabia heading towards instability and collapse?

Not exactly, although some analysts suggest the country is somewhat on the brink of collapse. Saudi Arabia has serious problems.

The sharp drop in oil prices has led to a significant budget deficit and forced the Riyadh government to tighten spending, while Saudi Arabia is embroiled in a costly war in Yemen and faces increasing pressure from its rival Iran, which is growing stronger after the lifting of economic sanctions. However, Saudi Arabia remains a stable nation, with the world's largest oil reserves, low public debt, and high cash reserves.

Compared to Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, or Lebanon, Saudi Arabia still seems to be a model of stability. However, internal issues related to the transfer of power could further complicate relations between Washington and Riyadh and create greater tensions in the coming years. Saudi Arabia will change; the question is whether that change will be evolutionary or revolutionary.

President Obama held talks with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia at the Egra Palace in Riyadh on April 20. Photo: AFP.

MUS-Saudi Arabia relationsso important that it's hard to collapse?

That's a valid point. Despite shortcomings in its policies toward Saudi Arabia, the U.S. still needs regional allies to help stabilize the situation and pursue its interests. And as long as crude oil remains traded in a single market, disruptions in supply will have a significant impact on economies and markets worldwide, including the U.S.

Therefore, it is clear that the stability of Saudi Arabia in particular and the Gulf region in general remains a key concern for the United States. Furthermore, Washington still needs Riyadh for intelligence sharing and the fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen, as well as cooperation in resolving the Syrian crisis.

QHave alliance relations improved under the new president?

Clearly, Saudi Arabia is looking forward to the new administration replacing the current President Obama. Obama has stated that Saudi Arabia is "freeloading" on the benefits of U.S. security guarantees without receiving fair reciprocation in supporting U.S. objectives.

The painful reality is that the United States is entangled in a "bad marriage" with Saudi Arabia, neither divorcing nor amicably mending the situation. Therefore, during President Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia, Washington hopes to leverage the US-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit on April 21st as a good opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and mediate between Iran and the Gulf Arab states.

Lan Ha

(According to CNN)