After Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince
of Saudi Arabia, become prime minister, the Biden administration granted him
immunity in relation to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, a move that did not come as a
surprise. The path of US-Saudi Arabia negotiations in preparation for today’s
rapprochement started more than a year ago. A change in the position of the
Biden administration was anticipated after US President Joe Biden’s recent
visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with its most influential public figure,
who had been explicitly accused of being directly involved in Khashoggi’s
murder.
اضافة اعلان
The change in the US administration position can be
evaluated from several perspectives. One is related to the American strategy to
counter Russia after the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, which made Washington
revive its relationship with European and non-European allies, as part of
efforts to promote US strategic interests and counter its rivals, mainly Russia
and China.
The shift in the US attitude and position thus
reflects a realistic policy that aims at blocking the opportunities for US’
rivals to take advantage of possible weaknesses in the US alliance with crucial
countries like Saudi Arabia.
At this delicate stage in the history of global
politics, a strong US position is a must, considering this country’s strategic
goals, e.g., controlling energy
resources and leaving a tangible impact on OPEC Plus, with Saudi Arabia as one
of its pillars. A position most needed, especially in relation with countries
like Saudi Arabia, which is not yet following the American policy of trying to
control the energy market with the aim of preventing Russia from taking
advantage of it.
Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia this summer showed a
desire to strengthen ties with this Arab country, especially with its crown
prince, the most powerful Saudi figure and the country’s future king, who in
recent years focused on the internal scene through leading a reform plan that
helped develop the Kingdom significantly and led him to gain great popularity
among the Saudi youth.
The impact of Mohammad bin Salman’s progressive
transformation programs could be detected in different aspects of the Saudi
society, including cultural changes and efforts to transform the country into
an international economic hub. Such developments will surely oblige any
administration in Washington to seriously reconsider its positions and
re-embrace Saudi Arabia as a strong ally in the region.
Bin Salman is expected to assume an active regional
and international role, which might involve the regional peace process. The
crucial contribution of the Saudi crown prince might well represent the most
important cornerstone for the Biden administration, leading to a sought-after
success in the Middle East, especially now that Benjamin Netanyahu has returned
as the head of the Israeli government, which will undoubtedly try to revive the
Abraham Accords and increase the number of Arab countries normalizing relations
with Israel.
Amer Al-Sabaileh is a Jordanian university professor and
geopolitical expert. He is a leading columnist in national, regional, and
international media, offers consultancies to think tanks and speaks at
international conferences on Middle East politics and developments.
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