Short-Sighted American Diplomacy Risks Losing Saudi Arabia at a Crucial Moment

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman told an interviewer that he wishes to “build a good and positive relationship with Iran that would benefit all parties.” The New York Times, meanwhile, reports that secret talks began in April between the two countries’ security services. While some are inclined to see these developments as having the potential to yield great achievements in peacemaking, they are more likely signs that Riyadh is losing faith in its alliance with Washington. Jonathan Schanzer provides some crucial background, noting that the Biden administration has taken several steps to distance itself from the Saudis, with dangerous consequences: