War Strains a Strategic Alliance

Relations between Washington and Riyadh have deteriorated significantly in recent months over the United States’ decision to launch military action against Iran, creating friction between two long-standing allies and sending ripples across the Middle East.

A Middle Eastern intelligence official said the Iran war has severely strained ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia, according to The Times of Israel. The official’s remarks partially corroborate a report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia initially refused to allow the United States to use its military bases and airspace for an operation known as ‘Project Freedom’, which aimed to break Iran’s control over shipping routes and secure the release of vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

The newspaper said Saudi bases and airspace were critical to the mission. Without Riyadh’s cooperation, Washington ultimately shelved the operation. At the time, however, President Donald Trump said the administration had suspended Project Freedom less than two days after its launch because negotiations with Iran were making progress.

The Saudi decision reportedly angered the White House, which threatened to halt deliveries of missile-defense interceptors designated for the kingdom. Citing US and Arab officials, the report said Saudi Arabia relied on those systems to defend against Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Saudi Arabia later reversed its position, allowing Project Freedom to resume in secret. Even so, U.S. officials told the newspaper that the damage to bilateral relations may not be easily repaired.

According to the report, Washington is now considering reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia.

Signs of growing tension have surfaced publicly in recent weeks.

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Gulf region, stopping in United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, but not Saudi Arabia. The Wall Street Journal reported that Riyadh viewed the omission as a slight.

A week earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined an invitation to attend the G7 Summit in France, where Trump was present. Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that the crown prince made the decision to protest Washington’s approach to the Iran war.

Before the conflict began, Saudi Arabia had strongly urged Trump not to pursue military action, according to the report. Riyadh feared efforts to overthrow Iran’s government would fail and instead prompt Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, destabilize the region, and inflict serious damage on the global economy.

Trump proceeded with the war despite those concerns. Arab officials said the decision reinforced Saudi perceptions that, despite maintaining close ties with the Trump administration, Riyadh wields limited influence over US policymaking.

Although Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states initially resisted involvement, they later allowed the United States to use their military facilities as they increasingly faced the burden of potential Iranian retaliation.

According to US officials and a Gulf official, Saudi Arabia also carried out several strikes targeting Iranian drone and missile launch sites.

Iran subsequently targeted Saudi energy facilities and other energy infrastructure. In response, Riyadh intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and a negotiated settlement.

Saudi Arabia was particularly concerned about the UAE’ continued military strikes against Iran. Riyadh feared the attacks would further endanger energy infrastructure across the region.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia wanted Washington to pressure the United Arab Emirates to halt its attacks and encourage Abu Dhabi to participate in regional diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

Abu Dhabi’s increasingly hard-line position toward Iran has further strained relations with Saudi Arabia over the past year. In April, the United Arab Emirates withdrew from the Saudi-led OPEC.

During the conflict, Saudi Arabia also urged the United States to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. President Trump rejected the request until the two sides reached an agreement last month.

That memorandum of understanding, which remains in force despite recent exchanges of fire, established a 60-day ceasefire. Under the agreement, the war that began in late February with US-Israeli strikes would be temporarily suspended. The deal also reopened the Strait of Hormuz and established a timeline for negotiating a permanent end to the conflict and a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump has told aides he believes the timeline could be extended if necessary.

Israel played no role in negotiating the memorandum, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has kept his distance from the agreement.

However, the memorandum’s opening clause, which commits the parties to ending the war permanently and refraining from renewed hostilities, explicitly states that the terms are binding on the United States, Iran, and ‘their allies’.

Israeli officials have strongly opposed the agreement, arguing that it fails to achieve any of the war’s principal objectives. In particular, they contend that it does not address either the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs or efforts to create conditions for the collapse of Iran’s current government.

Source: The Israel Times (adapted)