The killing of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 has conjured renewed scrutiny towards the U.S.-Saudi partnership. Since the 1938 discovery of petroleum in Saudi Arabia, the relationship evolved from a business and economic relationship into a mutually beneficial strategic alliance. It has remained as such despite the changing global and regional geopolitical climate over the last half-century. Khashoggi’s killing is the latest development in a slew of events that have placed the United States in the hot seat over its collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The U.S.-Saudi relationship, while strategically and economically beneficial to both nations, is a complicated one. Saudi Arabia’s championing of religious fundamentalism and the history of human rights abuses is a topic of concern among consciously-minded Americans at home. It is clear that multiple precedents involving the partnership have not died out. The tradition of a strong personal connection between the leaders of the two countries lives on. Media outlets have suggested that President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to resort to outright condemnation of the Saudis over the killing stems from his desire to maintain his personal relationship with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. It is evident that so long as the United States has interests in the Middle East, this partnership – albeit flawed – will endure.
Ron,
The “facts on the ground,” as they say, strongly support your argument. One wonders what the US would have done under a different president after the Khashoggi murder? In addition to the president’s constant need to have his ego stroked, which the Saudis went out of their way to do when he visited, there may well be an underlying corrupt, business motive to Trump’s approach–i.e., it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a hotel deal or something similar under discussion. In any case, as I noted in class, we are far less dependent on Saudi oil than we were 20 years ago. But that said, we still want them as an ally to counter Iran. –Professor Wallerstein