Saudi-Israeli peace a US foreign policy priority
The United States is relentless in its efforts to achieve normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Once again, senior members of the Biden Administration have travelled to the Kingdom to try to push forward this process, which is vital for Washington's interests in the Middle East. This time it was the turn of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and White House Senior Middle East Advisor Brett McGurk. The two met in Jeddah with senior Saudi officials - including the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar - as well as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to a White House statement, the meeting focused on "bilateral and regional issues, including initiatives to advance a shared vision of a more peaceful, secure, prosperous and stable Middle East". The long-running conflict in Yemen was also on the agenda, noting "the benefits of the truce that have endured over the past 16 months and "UN-led efforts to end the war".
The White House memo does not mention Israel or the possible establishment of ties between Riyadh and Jerusalem, although this was also one of the issues at the Jeddah meeting, as a US official revealed to Reuters and AP.
In recent months, the Biden administration has worked for a normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a milestone that would mark a turning point in the region. According to US officials quoted by Axios, Washington wants to achieve this diplomatic success before the election campaign overshadows Biden's agenda.
However, the constant spirals of violence between Palestinians and Israelis, as well as Benjamin Netanyahu's government's plans to build new settlements in the West Bank, have obstructed this process that could bring so many benefits to the Middle East.
The Abraham Accords have proved to be a success, not only diplomatically, but also culturally, economically and commercially. But a treaty between Saudi Arabia and Israel is something even greater. As New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman points out, normalisation between the Saudis and Israelis would be a bigger game changer for the Middle East than the Egypt-Israel peace treaty.
Friedman believes that 'peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the custodian of Islam's two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, would open the way for peace between Israel and the entire Muslim world, including large countries like Indonesia and perhaps even Pakistan'. Thus, normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel could significantly reduce the antipathy between Muslims and Jews born more than a century ago with the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It would also "be an important foreign policy legacy for Biden", he adds.
Recently, during his visit to the US, Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked the US for its efforts to establish peaceful ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which he described as "a leading nation in the region and in the Muslim world". "We pray that this moment will come," Herzog said during his speech to the US Congress.
Prime Minister Netanyahu - now embroiled in the controversial judicial reform that is sparking massive protests across the country - also admitted in an interview with Sky News in June that a peace deal with Riyadh would be "a big step forward" and "change history". According to 'Bibi', such an achievement would create "the possibility of ending the Arab-Israeli conflict and help resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict".
Normalisation subject to national interests
Senior Saudi officials, including the Foreign Minister, have also acknowledged that such normalisation would be positive for the region and for the Kingdom itself, although they stress that significant progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is necessary before such a step can be taken. On the other hand, there are certain objectives pursued by Riyadh that could provide an impetus for normalisation.
These interests have to do with its privileged relationship with the United States, one of its main international allies despite past tensions, and its strategic rapprochement with China, a key new player in the Middle East.
According to Friedman, the Saudis expect a NATO-level mutual security treaty from Washington that would oblige the US to defend the Kingdom in case it is attacked - most likely by Iran. They also seek a US-supervised civilian nuclear programme and the ability to purchase more advanced US weapons, such as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-ballistic missile defence system, especially useful against Iran's growing arsenal of medium- and long-range missiles.
Just as Washington has in recent months pressed Riyadh to sign a peace deal with Israel, the Saudis have asked Biden for a nuclear cooperation agreement that would allow them to enrich uranium in the Kingdom, which could lead to a nuclear arms race in the region as Iran continues to develop its nuclear programme.
With Saudi interests in mind, it is also necessary to mention Biden's objectives. Washington expects from Riyadh an unprecedented aid package for Palestinian institutions in the West Bank and 'meaningful limits' on its growing relationship with China.
Finally, both the US and Saudi Arabia would also present their conditions to Israel in the event of a peace deal. Friedman believes that in return for 'such a huge prize as normalisation and trade with the most important Arab Muslim state', Washington and Riyadh should demand from Jerusalem 'a formal promise never to annex the West Bank'.
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.