Can Obama pacify Saudi anger with condolences?
- By Jin Liangxiang
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 26, 2015
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A file picture taken on March 26, 2013 shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud attending the opening of the Arab League summit in the Qatari capital Doha. Saudi Crown Prince Salman has replaced Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who died January 23, 2015, the royal court said. [Xinhua photo] |
In addition to its anger with Washington's appeasement of Tehran, Saudi Arabia is also dissatisfied with U.S. policy toward Syria. Though the U.S. shares a common interest with Saudi Arabia in wanting to topple Bashar Assad, the U.S. has been reluctant to make an aggressive intervention into Syria's domestic politics.
Saudi anger is also evident. In 2013, Saudi Arabia refused to accept non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council while many other countries lusted after it. Since the end of 2014, Saudi Arabia has refused to reduce oil production to prevent prices from plummeting. It is believed that in doing so, Saudi Arabia is not only targeting Iran and Russia, two supporters of Bashar Assad, but is also targeting the U.S. for its reluctance to meddle in Syrian affairs.
It is true that neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia can pay the cost of a potential divorce. Saudi Arabia still plays an important role in the international economic arena for its status as the largest supplier in the global oil market, which is still important for the U.S. to maintain its financial dominance. That explains why Barack Obama would like to take the opportunity to express his condolences and acknowledge the new Saudi monarch. And despite its oil wealth, Saudi Arabia cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to managing its security needs. Therefore, Saudi Arabia will have to stay within the U.S. embrace.
This act of diplomacy will inject new momentum into U.S.-Saudi relations. Barack Obama can express his country's "traditional friendship" with Saudi Arabia, and can in some way pacify the Saudis' anger. The legitimacy of King Salman's reign will also be enhanced by Obama's visit. Saudi Arabia can also take pride in hosting the leader of the number one global power and show off its weight in global and regional politics before its neighbors.
But beyond that, this diplomatic action will not lead to a return to the warm relations of the past. It is very unlikely that the U.S. will reverse its policy of seeking rapprochement with Iran. Saudi Arabia will not be able to bring the U.S. back into its fold and will have to accept the U.S. decision to play a balancing game with Iran.
The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://china.org.cn/opinion/jinliangxiang.htm
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