According to Reuters, which cited three sources with knowledge of the situation, Saudi Arabia is determined to securing a military agreement with the US that would require the US to defend the kingdom in exchange for establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.
The kingdom is committed to carry out the agreement even if Israel does not give the Palestinians major concessions in their quest for statehood.
US-Saudi defense agreement linked to agreement with Israel; Palestinian demands ignored
While discussing the pact with US President Joe Biden during Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia in July 2022, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) expressed the kingdom’s initial hopes for a level of robust defense guarantees comparable to those offered by NATO.
Instead, a US source suggested that it would resemble the accords Washington has with Asian nations or, if that were to fail to win US Congress approval, it might resemble a deal with Bahrain, the home of the US Navy Fifth Fleet. Congress wouldn’t have to approve such a deal.
The US source claimed that Washington might further sweeten any agreement by giving Israel’s status of Major Non-NATO Ally to Saudi Arabia.
In the event of an attack, such as the 2019 missile strikes on its oil sites, Saudi Arabia demands US protection. Iran, the kingdom’s regional adversary, is held responsible for the assaults by both Riyadh and Washington, despite Tehran’s denials.
Agreements uniting two longtime enemies and tying Riyadh to Washington after China’s intrusions in the region would transform the Middle East by providing protection to the world’s largest oil exporter in exchange for normalization with Israel.
It would be a diplomatic triumph for Biden to celebrate before the 2024 presidential race.
Israel may relax some of its limitations on the Palestinians, but such actions wouldn’t fulfill their hopes for a state.
The three regional sources acquainted with the negotiations indicated that, similar to prior Arab-Israeli agreements negotiated over the years, the Palestinians’ primary desire for statehood will be subordinated.
“The normalization will take place between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The kingdom will keep on its current course even if the Palestinians object, according to one of the local sources. Saudi Arabia is in favor of a Palestinian peace plan, but this time it also has Saudi Arabia’s interests in mind.
Email inquiries regarding this piece were not answered by either the Saudi government or the US State Department.
