The Saudi-US relationship is a complex subject. In-depth discussions of their strategic vision for the global economy and Middle Eastern security necessarily branch out in multiple directions. Several books have been written about this strategic alliance that has ebbed and flowed over its eighty-year history. Here, we will focus on this relationship in the post-September 11, 2001, era, since George W. Bush was president. This bilateral relationship has reshaped the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape over the past quarter-century, and changes are accelerating at a rate that has left observers with little time to catch their breath.
Despite their divergences on regional issues, the Bush administration maintained a reasonable level of mutual understanding with Saudi Arabia. However, that changed once the Democrats came to power. The liberal policies of President Barack Obama’s administration contributed to fueling mass protests in several regional countries that eventually became known as the "Arab Spring." The Obama administration supported parties tied to the Muslim Brotherhood in various countries, most notably Egypt. Saudi Arabia did not support this stance, as it views political Islamist movements as a source of regional instability.
The leaders of both countries visited one another during the first year of King Salman’s reign. President Obama came to Riyadh on January 27, 2015, to offer condolences on the passing of King Abdullah, and later that year, in September, King Salman went to Washington.
However, the country’s relationship cooled during Obama’s term, especially after he attended the Gulf Cooperation Council/GCC-US Summit in Riyadh on April 20, 2016.
Political developments in the region favor Saudi Arabia’s effort to curb the influence of Islamist politics in the Middle East. This trajectory continued into the start of Republican President Donald Trump’s term in January 2017. Notably, Trump’s first trip abroad was to Riyadh. This was an unusual move, as US presidents traditionally head to neighboring countries or, at most, Europe, on their first foreign visit.
Trump’s first term proved fruitful for the strategic alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia. He ended the nuclear agreement with Iran, imposed additional sanctions on Iran, and launched multiple strikes that limited its influence in the region, particularly in Syria and Iraq. These measures marked a turning point that revived Saudi-American relations. Trump further reinforced these ties with his positive remarks about the Kingdom and its leadership, even after calls, mainly from Democratic politicians and media outlets, for a negative approach.
With Democrats back in the White House in January 2021, Saudi-American relations cooled once again. Nonetheless, President Joe Biden visited Jeddah in July 2022, to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the time, former US diplomat Alberto Miguel Fernandez tweeted, in Arabic: "This is clearly a concession by Biden that comes after his foolish remarks about Saudi Arabia during the election campaign and early in his term. However, his soft words are driven more by the US focus on Russia than genuine respect."
With Donald Trump in office and a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress, the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington is expected to flourish once again for many reasons, chief among President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s alignment behind prioritizing economic interests avoiding escalation. Both leaders advocate for de-escalation and see economic development as the key to political success, seeking "win-win" arrangements.
