Saudi Arabia decides to drop pursuit of defense treaty due to Israel stalemate

Saudi Arabia has shifted its focus from pursuing an ambitious defense treaty with Washington to seeking a more modest military cooperation agreement in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel. The kingdom softened its stance on Palestinian statehood but has now made recognition of Israel conditional on concrete steps toward creating a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is eager for normalization with Saudi Arabia but faces opposition at home to concessions for the Palestinians. Both leaders are currently unable to make significant moves due to domestic pressures. A full-blown U.S.-Saudi treaty would require recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia, which is a challenge due to public sentiment in the region. The current agreement under discussion involves joint military exercises and drills to address regional threats from Iran, increasing U.S. presence in Riyadh, and promoting Saudi investment in advanced technologies. The U.S. hopes to secure guarantees for Saudi Arabia’s security before President Biden leaves office in January, but there are obstacles to reaching a deal. The potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is uncertain due to ongoing tensions and differing priorities regarding Palestinian statehood. Trump’s administration is seen as a potential factor in influencing the trajectory of these negotiations.

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