While much has been hypothesized regarding the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, it is of immense significance to note that this does not mean that Saudis Arabia is no longer an Islamist nation. To be precise, Saudi Arabia remains one of the most vocal Islamic nations, which has established close bilateral ties with the United States because of various reasons. Concurrently, the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is mutually beneficial to the two countries. As such, there are various reasons that justify the notions that indeed Saudi Arabia is still an ardent Islamist nation, which has gained significance progress due to support it has and continues to receive from the United States. In fact, there is enough evidence that hold the truth on matters pertaining the close relationships between the United States and Saudi Arabia (Bronson 281). One of the primary evidence that depicts the manner in which the United States has been crucial in enhancing development of Saudi Arabia aligns with the fact that United States has opted to source its oil products from Saudi Arabia.
Since a long time ago, the United States has and continues to harbour immense preference for oil products from Saudi Arabia over those from other Middle Eastern oil producing nations. This has and continues to play a critical role in supporting the economic progress of Saudi Arabia. Precisely, the U.S economy is heavily reliant on oil for its vehicle fuels and for energy production (Carina 39). As a result, the United States spends immense resources in sourcing oil from Saudi Arabia; hence, earning foreign exchange to Saudi Arabia. The fact that the United States has been reliant on Saudi Arabia should not lead to the development of the perception that Saudi Arabia is not an Islamist supporter. This is evident by the fact that Saudi Arabia’s repressive regime has supported different Islamic groups and also has bred a number of terrorist groups (Blanchard 42). This shows that Saudi Arabia remains an ardent supporter of Islamism, but is dependent on the united states for certain concerns.
Evidently, the United States has pledged to support bilateral relationships between her and Saudi Arabia whereby president Obama has vowed to support and cooperate closely with Saudi Arabia on a number of issues. Notably, Saudi Arabia has utilized the support it has received from the United States to topple over its enemies (Carina 29). Precisely, Saudi Arabia has brooded a long time enmity with Syria and Iran. This was evident when this country sent its troops to Bahrain with the sole intent of stemming out a popular revolt and supporting the development of the Bahrain monarchy (Bronson 91). While it can be though that it was Saudi Arabia’s efforts that led to the stemming up of the said popular revolt, it is essential to note that the United States was there to support Saudi allies who contributed to the toppling over of the popular revolt. This paved way to the development of the Bahrain monarchy, which Saudi Arabia has used to pull support member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Boid 12). For this reason, Saudi Arabia would not have managed to topple over popular revolts and develop the Bahrain monarchy without the support of the United States.
On another note, the United States share the same opinion with Saudi Arabia on issues aligned with nuclear weaponry. Iran occurs as one of the primary country that has posed immense security threats because of its quests to develop nuclear weapons. Worth noting is the fact that Saudi Arabia occurs as an arch rival of the far-reaching Shiite regime in Iran (Boid 30). Perhaps it is this reason that has prompted the Saudi Arabia to form regional allies with other nations, whereby they have played a crucial role in downsizing the Iran‘s economy; hence, dwindling their efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Due to this shared ideology, the United States has and continues to offer immense support for various development agendas in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the United States has provided military support for Saudi Arabia, whereby it has provided them with a U.S made anti-tank missile at a subsidized price (Blanchard 9). This shows that if it was not for the support of the United States, Saudi Arabia would have no military power that makes it one of the most feared nations in the Middle East.
Another factor that has and continues to boost the association concerning the United States and Saudi Arabia is the fact that Saudi Arabia has disregarded issues aligned with historical antagonism. Instead, it has shown innate quest to offer financial support for countries allied to the United States (Boid 4). Speaking of historical antagonism, this refers to cases whereby the Middle Eastern countries showed immense resentment towards western countries, particularly the United States. In line with this matter, Saudi Arabia has often disregarded such resentment, and this is perhaps the primary reason that has led to the emergence of persistent perceptions that the Saudi Arabia is no longer an Islamist country. An example of cases where Saudi Arabia has disregarded historical antagonism is in the case where at the wake of the Arab upheaval, Saudi Arabia did not side with other Arab states. Instead, it offered financial support to the Hashemite monarchy in Jordan, which has been an ally to the United States (Bronson 64). It is imperative to note that the Hashemite dynasty as an ally of the United States has radical in supporting the Yemeni government that is on the verge of collapsing. This analysis depicts the manner in which Saudi Arabia has strayed from supporting causes that are aligned with Islamism, but has instead supported agendas supported by the United States. In appreciation, the United States has vested immense resource in supporting the development across various realms in Saudi Arabia (Marion 61).
Work Cited
Blanchard, Christopher. Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations. Boston: DIANE Publishing, 2010. Print.
Boid, Michael. US and Saudi Arabia trade. RI: Field, 2010. Print.
Bronson, Rachael. Thicker than Oil: Americas Uneasy Partnership with Saudi Arabia. London: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print.
Carina, Becky. Understanding the US and Saudi Arabia relationship. Philadelphia: Carey, 2009. Print.Marion, Frashier. Saudi Arabia politics. New York: Saxton, 2013. Print.
