Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Growing U.S. - Saudi Rift



Response To Arab Uprisings Causes U.S.-Saudi Rift -- NPR

Defense Secretary Robert Gates spent a few hours in Riyadh Wednesday, making him the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Saudi Arabia since the wave of uprisings began in the Arab world.

Those uprising have sparked tensions in U.S.-Saudi relations. In a rare open disagreement with the Obama administration, King Abdullah chastised the president for abandoning Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak, a long time ally.

The Saudis have since developed a more aggressive regional policy.

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My Comment: The special U.S.- Saudi relationship that has been in existence since the end of the Second World war is now rapidly coming to an end. What does this mean to America's long term strategic interests in the Middle East has yet to be determined, but expect other countries to be solicited (and invited) by the Saudis to replace this relationship.

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