The US plans to use new military bases in Saudi Arabia in the face of a possible escalation of tensions with Iran
The US-Iran relationship has always been characterised by its rather tense, complex nature and competition to become the predominant power in the region. But this past year this relationship has reached unexpected limits, to the point of potentially leading to a direct confrontation between the two countries.
The Trump Administration has not helped to calm the already strained relationship between the two countries, which from the outset decided to use a policy of diplomatic asphyxiation and economic strangulation with the Islamic Republic, scuppering all the efforts of the previous Obama Administration to reach a point of understanding with Iran.
Trump unilaterally decided to pull out of the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015 (JCPOA), and to impose economic sanctions on the Persian country. He also orchestrated the assassination of Quds Forces commander Qasem Soleimani. This severe blow caused the situation in the Middle East to become more tense than ever, as fears of Iranian retaliation against the US were raised, which, had it occurred, could have escalated the tension between the two countries into open warfare.
For its part, the Biden Administration has been cautious about the steps to be taken with Iran, but there seems to be a rapprochement to reactivate the nuclear agreement, and the US president himself has stated that he will lift sanctions if the Ayatollahs' country complies with the terms of the agreement once again.
Despite these developments, the US has announced that its military is seeking "reserve" bases in Saudi Arabia to protect forces in case tensions with Iran escalate. General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Army Central Command (Centcom), said that "what we would like to do, without closing [current] bases, is to have the ability to go to other bases to operate in a period of heightened risk". McKenzie also stressed that the Pentagon was not looking for new permanent bases, but rather places that could be used quickly in times of crisis.
It was announced in January that the US might be negotiating with Saudi Arabia to open new bases in the Gulf country. US Central Command officials have stopped short of confirming the deal, but referred to it as "contingency planning", adding that the military had already conducted tests at the port of Yanbu, about 100 km west of the holy city of Medina.
The army confirmed it was examining the King Faisal air base in Tabuk, about 50 km south of the kingdom's border with Jordan, and the King Fahd air base in Taif, about 60 km east of Mecca. "The Persian Gulf would be contested waters in any armed conflict scenario with Iran, so you look at where they would move their forces when they enter the theatre of operations because they are in a contested area," McKenzie explained.
Washington has long maintained a number of military assets in the Gulf states, including its Centcom headquarters in Qatar, which oversees all US forces in the Middle East. About 2,500 US troops are stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base, southeast of Riyadh, where they have fighter jets and Patriot missile batteries.
Former US President Donald Trump deployed troops to Saudi Arabia for the first time since the 9/11 attacks in late 2019, following attacks on two oil facilities that were blamed on Iran. For his part, Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran's mission to the United Nations, has criticised the developments, calling the presence of US troops in the region "one of the main reasons for the chaotic situation and insecurity in our region".
The announcement comes after US President Joe Biden said he was willing to meet with Iranian officials under the auspices of the European Union to boost diplomacy. The Iranians have not taken kindly to this new tactic on the part of the US, and relations between the two countries could become even more complicated.