Saudi Arabia Vies For Influence in Iraq
Riyadh has reached out to tribal sheikhs in southern Iraq in what some see as a continuation of the ongoing Saudi-Iranian competition for influence in the region.
It's hard to determine the exact features of Saudi Arabia’s policy in Iraq, because of its conservative and secretive nature. It is no secret to anyone that Saudi Arabia is not very friendly toward the Iraqi government — which is dominated by Shiite parties — or toward Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
According to leaked US cables from diplomats who met with the Saudi king, the latter does not trust Maliki and considers him an Iranian agent. Despite this, a few months ago, Maliki made statements regarding the possibility of establishing an “axis of moderation” that includes Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, to counter what he considered the “axis of extremism” that supports the Muslim Brotherhood and some hard-line organizations — an apparent reference to Qatar and Turkey.
These statements have raised speculations about breaking the ice between the two parties. Some have even talked about a potential normalization of relations. Yet the developments of the Syrian crisis and the two countries’ opposing stances on it suggest that such a rapprochement remains unattainable.
Saudi media outlets — especially those close to the royal family, such as the daily Asharq Al-Awsat that is owned by the crown prince — strongly criticize the Maliki government, particularly in opinion articles that are written by influential journalists in Saudi Arabia.
