It’s been a good autumn for the House of Saud. Saudi Arabia has come to represent an interesting and important position in the world: the reluctant American ally, and that has made all the difference.
Despite spats in the past, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia have remained strong allies. This comes even in the face of the wide differences between these countries (particularly in the realm of civil and political rights, a fact that has brought criticism on the US for choosing to continue the relationship), as both states bound by strong mutual security interests in the region. The American and Saudi governments have both been traditionally worried about the rise of militant Islamic violence, the role of Iran in the region, and the free trade and movement of oil (albeit for different reasons on each count).
Over the last few months, Saudi Arabia and American have begun to face possible defining moments in their relationship. Over the summer, the Saudis exhibited several large shows of support to the new Egyptian government, much to the US’ displeasure, while rejecting an elected seat on the UN Security Council a few weeks ago, condemning the US for its inaction in Syria, among other things.
A condemnation is more than just a chink in the armor but rather a crack. Saudi Arabia is worried over calls from within the US to approach Iran peacefully, bad for Saudi Arabia, as Iran is the greatest regional threat to the Saudis, as well as calls from within the US and the international community supporting peace talks Syria, also bad for the Saudis as Assad’s government is Tehran’s closest ally in the region. These have scared the Saudis to the point of making their discontent public.
And as the newfound reluctant ally, the US is doing its part to bring the regional power back into the fold. John Kerry is currently in Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his Middle Eastern tour. This is exactly the right move too. Despite the problems with Saudi Arabia, the United States needs Saudi Arabia, and their concerns are justified. Sometimes, appeasement isn’t bad–the reluctant ally might have a point.