Trump added two demands to his Saudi deal. The kingdom might walk.
If the U.S pushes too hard, Saudi Arabia could partner with China instead.
Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s human development story
This year, as Saudi Arabia marks the 10-year anniversary of the launch of Vision 2030, commentary will again dwell on Neom, the Red Sea resorts, Qiddiya, airports and new cities. They matter. But the deeper story is the incredible transformation of daily life in Saudi Arabia. Launched on April 25, 2016, by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vision 2030 has altered life for the Saudi people in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
Is Saudi Arabia Drifting Away From the U.S.?
Saudi Arabia’s differences with the UAE and Israel do not stem from ideological backsliding or hostility to the West. They stem from a fundamental disagreement over how to deal with some of the most fragile states in the world.
Influence Requires Responsibility
It is precisely because Riyadh takes stability so seriously that it watches some Emirati regional behavior with growing concern. The UAE is not a marginal actor. It is a major Arab success story with real capabilities
As Trump and MBS meet, a longtime partnership faces new realities
Although MBS comes to Washington as head of government rather than head of state, Trump will receive him with the full ceremony of a state visit. This isn’t about nostalgia
Why A US–Saudi Military Agreement Makes Strategic Sense
When Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman makes his official visit to Washington—expected in the coming weeks—it will offer both countries a moment to re-articulate a relationship that
How MBS Transformed Saudi Arabia Over a Decade
In 2014 I wrote a book, “The Saudi Kingdom,” that was, frankly, pessimistic about Saudi Arabia’s long-term prospects. After decades under a geriatric leadership class that had done too little
What Saudi Arabia Gained from Trump’s Visit
US President Donald Trump’s decision to make Riyadh his first foreign destination in his second term was not merely a gesture of diplomacy — it was a geopolitical statement. For
President Trump’s Saudi Arabia trip sets up a strategic reset in the Middle East
As President Donald Trump returns to Riyadh for his second official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—once again choosing it as his first foreign destination in a new presidential
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks to U.S President Joe Biden during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 2022. (Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS)
Why Saudi Arabia matters more than ever to the US in a volatile Middle East
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the ultimate prize for those who want to topple the US-led order in Middle East To say that the Middle East is a volatile