Skip to main content

Is Saudi defense reform a win-win for Washington and Riyadh?

The US should consider a shift from arms sales to supporting Saudi defense industry reform and expansion.
A color guard holds Saudi Arabia's flag while waiting for Saudi Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman arrival for an honor cordon at the Pentagon August 29, 2019, in Washington, DC.

After a rocky start for bilateral ties when President Biden pledged to "recalibrate" Saudi-US relations, the White House now seems to be returning to the bedrock principle of Saudi-US cooperation. The implicit oil-for-security contract that cemented Saudi-US relations throughout the past decades is still in place.

And that’s why the US-Saudi strategic relationship deserves some new thinking, namely on how it should move forward.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.