The article discusses the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, where he was welcomed with a lavish ceremony, including a flypast of fighter jets. The visit marked a significant shift in US-Middle East policy, with President Trump announcing plans to sell advanced AI chips and F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The article notes that this marks a departure from previous administrations' policies, which had been more critical of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Trump has been criticized for his close relationship with Prince Mohammed, who has faced accusations of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
The article also suggests that the visit is part of a broader trend of US policy shifts in the Middle East, driven by a desire to strengthen ties with authoritarian leaders and overlook concerns about human rights. The author argues that this approach has been successful in securing significant economic investments from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, but at the cost of undermining US credibility on issues such as Palestine.
The article concludes by noting that while there may be some superficial changes in US policy under Trump's administration, the underlying drivers remain the same. The author suggests that a "reset" in US-Middle East policy is unlikely without significant shifts in US foreign policy priorities and a greater emphasis on human rights and democracy.
The article notes that this marks a departure from previous administrations' policies, which had been more critical of Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Trump has been criticized for his close relationship with Prince Mohammed, who has faced accusations of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
The article also suggests that the visit is part of a broader trend of US policy shifts in the Middle East, driven by a desire to strengthen ties with authoritarian leaders and overlook concerns about human rights. The author argues that this approach has been successful in securing significant economic investments from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, but at the cost of undermining US credibility on issues such as Palestine.
The article concludes by noting that while there may be some superficial changes in US policy under Trump's administration, the underlying drivers remain the same. The author suggests that a "reset" in US-Middle East policy is unlikely without significant shifts in US foreign policy priorities and a greater emphasis on human rights and democracy.