As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman tours the United States this week, he will be forging important ties with members of the business, entertainment and defence community. Most importantly, Mohammad has a regional vision for his country, which he aims to defend the Arab world from Iranian meddling. Already, Saudi Arabia is engaged in a proxy war with Iran in Yemen where Tehran has armed and supported Al Houthi militants against Saudi interests.
Mohammad has clearly stated that if Iran is allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, his country will follow suit, signalling his annoyance with Tehran’s unchecked violations. Despite rocky relations with the US under former president Barack Obama, Mohammad has found a like-minded person in President Donald Trump who has continuously voiced his displeasure over the Iranian nuclear accord, which he believes has emboldened Tehran and threatened the region.
There seems to be unfettered support by Trump to Saudi Arabia, which crystalises a historic relationship that dates back to the founding of their partnership in 1945 by former US president Franklin Roosevelt and the founder of Saudi Arabia, Saud Bin Abdul Aziz. This relationship has been the foundation for a stable Saudi Arabia and a stable region for decades where US security is provided in exchange for oil deals. Strengthening these ties come at a particularly crucial time in the region as Iran and Turkey are stepping up their meddling in Arab countries’ affairs, which can be seen in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Despite constant warnings by Arab states of such dangers, little has been done to stop it. With a friendly face in Washington, now is the time for Saudi Arabia to cement these ties and for the US to take concrete action.
