US and Saudi Arabia Discuss Signing a Military Agreement
In a recent development, The New York Times (NYT) reported that the United States and Saudi Arabia are in discussions to sign a military agreement similar to the ‘ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty’ and the ‘US-Japan Security Treaty’. This proposed agreement, strongly advocated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, would require approval from the Senedd. However, it is anticipated that it will face significant opposition, even within the Democratic Party.
According to US officials quoted by NYT, “American and Saudi officials are currently negotiating the terms of a military agreement, similar to the security agreements signed with Korea and Japan. Both countries are considering this agreement in relation to their relationship with Israel.” The officials further added, “This agreement could serve as an incentive to normalize the relationship.” The proposed security agreement would entail pledging mutual military support in the event of an attack on either country. Notably, there has been no prior discussion on utilizing the East Asian military agreement as a model for this proposed agreement.
The US has been mediating the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, two longstanding adversaries in the Middle East. The urgency of this mediation, it is argued, is a response to China’s rapid expansion of power in the region. Last year, China orchestrated the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran after seven years of severed relations. In light of China’s growing influence in the region, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Saudi Arabia in May and June to meet with Crown Prince bin Salman.
President Joe Biden’s pursuit of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is considered a diplomatic gamble, as the NYT noted, particularly in light of his campaign promise to make Crown Prince bin Salman a ‘pariah’. The Biden administration views the normalization of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel as a significant diplomatic achievement that can be prioritized ahead of the next presidential election.
The NYT highlighted that “the Saudis strongly desire” the US-Saudi Arabia mutual defense agreement. Crown Prince bin Salman is reportedly pushing for this security agreement as a prerequisite for negotiations on normalizing relations with Israel. The aim of such a defense deal, according to Saudi officials, is to deter potential attacks by Iran or other armed factions.
However, the NYT reported that Saudi Arabia has requested US assistance in developing a civilian nuclear program in exchange for normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. The United States, however, is hesitant to provide such aid.
Strong Opposition Expected from US Congress
If a military cooperation plan between the United States and Saudi Arabia, similar to the ones with Korea and Japan, is pursued, it is expected to face resistance in the US Congress. Prominent US lawmakers, including those from the Democratic Party, view the Saudi government and Crown Prince bin Salman as unreliable partners who prioritize their own interests over US interests and human rights. The Crown Prince himself has been accused of orchestrating the elimination of dissenters, including the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Critics argue that President Biden compromised on human rights principles when seeking cooperation from Saudi Arabia, as seen in his request for increased oil production. Senator Bob Menendez, a member of the Democratic Party and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is particularly opposed to any form of collaboration with Saudi Arabia that compromises human rights.
To navigate these challenges, White House officials have reportedly been briefing influential Democratic lawmakers on the negotiations in recent months. The agreement would require ratification by the US Senate, necessitating a majority of at least 67 out of the 100 seats.
Furthermore, the US-Saudi Arabia military cooperation agreement contradicts the Biden administration’s goal of shifting military resources away from the Middle East and towards countering China in the Asia-Pacific region. Nevertheless, it has been emphasized that the discussions do not include plans for deploying a large number of US troops to Saudi Arabia, similar to the deployments in Korea and Japan. Currently, the US has fewer than 2,700 troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
While discussing the joint defense treaty between Korea and the United States, the NYT drew attention to the historical context of strengthening alliances worldwide against the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. The treaty allows for the mutual defense of Korean and Japanese territories against any potential attack, thereby mitigating shared risks.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 19th (local time) that the US and Saudi Arabia are discussing signing a military agreement similar to the ‘ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty’ and the ‘US-Japan Security Treaty’ that the US States signed with Korea and Japan, respectively. The NYT reported that this was strongly called for by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia. However, such a military agreement must be voted on in the Senedd, and it is predicted that it will likely face strong opposition even within the Democratic Party.
The NYT quoted US officials that day, saying, “American and Saudi officials are discussing the terms of a military agreement similar to the security agreement signed between the US and Korea and Japan,” and “Both countries are consider (this agreement) in Saudi Arabia. relationship with Israel.” “We see it as an incentive that can normalize it,” he said. He continued, “If the United States and Saudi Arabia reach a similar security agreement, the United States and Saudi Arabia will pledge to provide military support if the other country is attacked.” “There was no previous discussion regarding the use of the East Asian military agreement, which is considered a model, as a model,” he said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. / Yonhap News Reuters
Until now, the administration of Joe Biden in the United States has been mediating the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the two archenemies in the Middle East. There was an analysis that this reflected the urgency of the United States, which was surprised by China’s rapid expansion of power in the Middle East. Last March, China announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran would restore diplomatic ties that had been severed for seven years after behind-the-scenes negotiations resulted in extreme secrecy. As China’s diplomatic influence appears to be growing, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Saudi Arabia back-to-back in May and June and met with Crown Prince bin Salman.
NYT said, “President Biden’s push to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is a diplomatic gamble that would have been hard to imagine just a short time ago,” and “He vowed to make Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman a ‘pariah’ during presidential 2020. campaign.” “I did it,” he said. The Biden administration considers establishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel as a major ‘diplomatic achievement’ that can be prioritized before next year’s presidential election.
NYT said, “(The US-Saudi Arabia mutual defense agreement) is something the Saudis strongly want.” According to current and former US officials, Crown Prince bin Salman is said to be promoting the signing of such a security agreement as a prerequisite for talks on normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. NYT continued, “Saudi officials say a strong defense deal (between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia) will help prevent potential attacks by Iran or other armed factions.”
However, in exchange for normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to help it develop a civilian nuclear program, but the United States is reluctant to do so, the NYT reported.
◇ “It will cause strong opposition from the US Congress.”
However, there is speculation that if the United States signs a military cooperation plan with Saudi Arabia similar to the military agreements signed between Korea and the United States and the United States and Japan, it will face opposition from the Congress. US. NYT reported, “High-ranking US lawmakers, including the Democratic Party, view the Saudi government and Crown Prince bin Salman as ‘unreliable partners’ who have little interest in US interests or affairs human rights.” Bin Salman is suspected of eliminating not only the royal family who blocked absolute royal authority, but also the dissident journalist Khashoggi. President Biden called him a ‘murderer’ during the presidential election, but since coming to power, there has been criticism within the party that he bent the ‘principle of human rights’ when asking for cooperation from Saudi Arabia on issues such as increasing oil production. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, a member of the Democratic Party, is particularly opposed to cooperation with Saudi Arabia, even at the cost of bending human rights principles.
For this reason, the NYT reported that over the past few months, White House officials have secretly briefed influential Democratic lawmakers about the negotiations. In order for the agreement to be ratified in the US Senate, 67 votes, or two-thirds of the 100 seats in the Senate, are needed.
NYT also said, “The US-Saudi Arabia military cooperation agreement also contradicts the Biden administration’s goal of shifting US military resources and combat capabilities away from the Middle East and toward containing China in the region Asia-Pacific in particular.” However, it has been reported that the United States and Saudi Arabia are not discussing sending large numbers of US troops to Saudi Arabia, just as they are sending large numbers of US troops to Korea and Japan. The NYT reported that the United States has less than 2,700 US troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, regarding the joint defense treaty between Korea and the United States, the NYT said, “As the Cold War intensified in the middle of the 20th century, we ended up in a situation where the The United States strengthened its alliances around the world against the Soviet Union. This agreement was signed by the United States to place troops in Korea and Japan.” “It allows them to do that, and states that if there is an attack on Korean and Japanese territory against either country, either country. action to deal with the common risk.”
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