1. Saudi Arabia/United States — Strained Relations
- Publication Date:
- 01-2002
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Oxford Analytica
- Abstract:
- Crown Prince Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz yesterday described relations with Washington as "excellent". Despite these remarks, US-Saudi ties are under greater strain than at any time since the 1973-74 oil embargo, with the value of relations under question in the media of both countries, reflecting public feelings. These sentiments are not shared by the governing elites in either Washington or Riyadh, but they are constraining how the governments deal with one another. The removal of US forces from the Prince Sultan Airbase might ease the domestic pressure on Riyadh and give it more room to cooperate with Washington on other matters related to the war on terrorism. However, if Washington targets Iraq militarily, and Saudi Arabia rejects US requests for cooperation, relations will be severely damaged.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy
- Political Geography:
- United States, Washington, Middle East, and Arabia