Questions are being raised about ongoing US-Saudi negotiations which many media organisations have talked about. Are they just leaks or features of a new emerging Middle East?
The negotiations, according to what has been published in American newspapers, revolve around three main topics:
First: American security guarantees to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to place it at the level of a member state in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Riyadh obtaining advanced weapons, including THAAD anti-ballistic missiles, etc.
Second: The United States’ help to a Saudi nuclear program for civilian purposes includes its “full cycle” which begins with enrichment and ends with the treatment of depleted uranium through energy production.
Third: Efforts to settle the Palestinian issue based on the Arab Peace Initiative which was announced at the Beirut Arab Summit in 2002 and which also allows an Arab-Israeli relationship.
On the contrary, Washington wants to determine the level of Saudi-Chinese relationship. This is so that Riyadh remains the main source of oil for the Chinese market and they have economic cooperation, particularly those related to security and military such as the Huawei communications system and avoid strategic military purchases from China.
Also, Washington expects Saudi normalization with Israel, in exchange for Saudi expectations to resolve the Palestinian issue according to the initiative agreed upon by all Arab countries at the Beirut Summit in 2002.
The relationship with Israel is not Riyadh’s goal, but it is rather the means to achieve its important requirements for its security strategy.
[Editorial Al-Majallah]
Compiled and Translated by Faizul Haque
