Despite the agreement with Iran, US-Saudi Arabia relations are improving

 

"There remains a lot of goodwill between the two countries, but the United States now has to deal with a Saudi Arabia that is very different from the past, and that is one of the understandable hurdles."

The more than 70-year-old relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has undoubtedly passed through its most difficult phase.

But despite a recent Chinese-backed deal to restore ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, recent statements from officials and the Biden administration indicate that this cold wave is slowly giving way to a more stable environment between Washington and Riyadh. I am changing.

In a statement, a State Department spokesperson told Al Arabiya that "Looking forward, we are committed to ensuring that our cooperation with Saudi Arabia continues to serve the interests of the American people, and we have We have seen and will continue to see great strategic importance in the relationship."

The oil embargo in the 1970s, the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Obama administration's policy on Iran and the subsequent 2015 nuclear deal have seen many other difficult periods in Saudi-US relations.

Relations were boosted during the tenure of former US President Trump and he made his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. However, after Donald Trump blocked a military response to Iran's attacks on Saudi oil refineries in 2019, the climate of confidence was affected.

During Trump's post-election campaign, then-candidate Joe Biden promised to "isolated" Saudi Arabia. Shortly after Biden took office, several foreign policy decisions targeted Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, including freezing arms sales to Riyadh.

But the events of the past six months are particularly alarming and threaten the continuity of US-Saudi relations.

The decision by the Saudi-led OPEC Plus to cut oil production ahead of the US midterm elections was interpreted by the Biden administration as a political ploy to undermine the Democrats' chances of victory against the Republicans. Saudi Arabia vehemently denied the allegations, pointing to the stabilization of oil prices immediately after the decision to cut oil production.

Washington also accused Saudi Arabia of siding with Russia at a time when the US and Europe were trying to squeeze Vladimir Putin's coffers during the war in Ukraine.

The White House and other US officials have called for a renegotiation of relations with Saudi Arabia, even threatening economic and financial sanctions.

But shortly after, the tone of American officials towards Saudi Arabia changed.

At the United Nations, Saudi Arabia led several Arab and Gulf states in a referendum to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. After that, Saudi Arabia promised to give 400 million dollars to Ukraine. The Biden administration quickly toned down its criticism and praised Saudi Arabia's positive contributions globally.