Saudi Arabia has decided to abandon an ambitious defense agreement with the United States, opting instead for a more modest military cooperation pact.
This decision comes in the wake of heightened public anger across the Middle East over Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made it clear that any recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia is contingent upon Israel taking "concrete steps to create a Palestinian state," according to sources cited by Reuters.
The move marks a departure from earlier efforts to normalize relations with Israel, which were part of a broader strategy to secure a wide-ranging mutual security treaty with Washington. However, the situation changed dramatically following the October 7th attacks by Hamas, which have intensified domestic opposition within Israel against any concessions to the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while eager to achieve normalization with Saudi Arabia as a historic milestone, faces overwhelming resistance at home. Any gesture towards Palestinian statehood could potentially fracture his ruling coalition.
Despite these challenges, there remains hope that a limited defense pact between Riyadh and Washington could be finalized before President Joe Biden leaves office in January.
The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by Iran's recent launch of over 100 missiles at Israel, escalating tensions in the region.
This development shows the complex interplay of regional politics, where domestic pressures and international diplomacy are intricately linked.
As one observer noted, "The kind of money these Saudi royals are sitting on is out of this world," highlighting the economic and political clout that Saudi Arabia wields in these negotiations.
Comentarios