History Saudi Arabia–United States relations

1 history

1.1 history (recognition)
1.2 foundation of aramco
1.3 world war ii
1.4 after world war ii
1.5 king saud comes power (1953)
1.6 cold war , soviet containment
1.7 oil embargo , energy crises
1.8 government purchases
1.9 gulf war
1.10 operation southern watch
1.11 2010 u.s. arms sale saudi arabia
1.12 foreign policy
1.13 rift

history

king ibn saud converses president franklin d. roosevelt on board uss quincy, after yalta conference in 1945.


early history (recognition)

although king abdulaziz al saud, ibn saud appellation, founder of saudi arabia in 1901, had excellent relationship british defended saudi arabia turks, developed closer ties u.s. after unifying country, on september 28, 1928, bin saud set gaining international recognition saudi arabia. britain first country recognize saudi arabia independent state, british had provided protection of saudi territories turks many years (wafa, 2005). saud hoped recognized us, @ time had no interest in saudi arabia. initially, efforts rebuffed, washington came around, promoted fact al saud had obtained recognition many nations. in may 1931 u.s. officially recognized saudi arabia extending full diplomatic recognition. @ same time ibn saud granted concession u.s. company, standard oil of california, allowing them explore oil in country s eastern province, al-hasa. company gave saudi government £35,000 , paid assorted rental fees , royalty payments.

in november 1931, treaty signed both nations included favored nation status. relationship still weak, however, america did not have interest in establishing missions in saudi arabia: @ time, saudi affairs handled u.s. delegation in cairo, egypt, , did not send resident ambassador country until 1943.

foundation of aramco

after promises had been made american oil explorers saudi arabia have chance of finding oil, al saud accepted american offer of exploration, because hoping land have valuable materials support country s economy. in may 1933 california arabian standard oil company (casoc), later called arab american company (aramco), had started exploration in country large area explore (alnabrab, 2008). although imported oil not important u.s. @ time, washington seemed hungry saudi oil since confidence in finding oil in saudi arabia had grown, resulted in stronger relations saudi arabia (irvine, 1981).

casoc struck oil near dhahran, production on next several years remained low—only 42.5 million barrels between 1941 , 1945; less 1% of output in united states on same time period. casoc later renamed arabian-american oil company (aramco). agreement between company , saudi kingdom modified several times on years. in 1950, saudi arabia , aramco agreed 50–50 profit-sharing arrangement, , series of agreements between 1973 , 1980 resulted in saudis regaining full control of company. in 1988, fahd of saudi arabia issued royal decree establishing saudi arabian oil company, known saudi aramco, replace aramco.

world war ii

as u.s.–saudi relationship growing slowly, world war ii beginning first phase. u.s. involved in world war ii, , result us-saudi relations put on burner . negligence left saudi arabia vulnerable attack. italy, axis power, bombed casoc oil installation in dhahran crippling saudi arabia s oil production. attack left bin saud scrambling find external power protect country, fearing further attacks cease country s oil production , flow of pilgrims coming makkah perform hajj, base of saudi power , economy @ time (wafa, 2005).

however, world war ii progressed, united states began believe saudi oil of strategic importance. result, in interest of national security, u.s. began push greater control on casoc concession. on 16 february 1943, president franklin d. roosevelt declared defense of saudi arabia vital defense of united states , thereby making possible extension of lend-lease program kingdom. later year, president approved creation of state-owned petroleum reserves corporation, intent purchase stock of casoc , gain control of saudi oil reserves in region. however, plan met opposition , failed. roosevelt continued court government, however—on 14 february 1945, met king ibn saud aboard uss quincy, discussing topics such countries security relationship , creation of jewish country in mandate of palestine.

bin saud therefore approved s request allow u.s. air force fly on , construct airfields in saudi arabia. oil installations rebuilt , protected u.s., pilgrims routes protected (wafa, 2005), , u.s. gained needed direct route military aircraft heading iran , soviet union. first american consulate opened in dhahran in 1944.

after world war ii

in 1945, after world war ii, saudi citizens began feel uncomfortable u.s. forces still operating in dhahran. in contrast, saudi government , officials saw u.s. forces major component of saudi military defense strategy. result, bin saud balanced 2 conflicts increasing demands on u.s. forces in dhahran when region highly threatened , lowering when danger declined (alnabrab, 1994). @ time, due start of cold war, u.s. concerned soviet communism , devised strategy of containing spread of communism within arabian peninsula, putting saudi security @ top of washington s list of priorities. harry s. truman s administration promised bin saud protect saudi arabia soviet influence. therefore, u.s. increased presence in region protect interest , allies. security relationship between saudi arabia , u.s. therefore strengthened @ start of cold war .

in 1950, saudi arabia , aramco agreed 50–50 profit-sharing arrangement.

in 1951, under mutual defense agreement, u.s. established permanent u.s. military training mission in kingdom , agreed provide training support in use of weapons , other security-related services saudi armed forces. army corps of engineers assisted in construction of military installations in kingdom. agreement formed basis of grew longstanding security relationship. 2 years later, king abdulaziz died , succeeded son, crown prince saud, known reputation spendthrift. under king saud, kingdom s treasury diminished rapidly , forced turn on direct control of government affairs half-brother faisal 1958 1961. in 1964, royal family , religious leadership forced saud abdicate in favor of faisal.

king saud comes power (1953)

king saud , john kennedy 1962

in late 1950s, king saud, eldest son of king abdulaziz, came power after father s death. during saud s time u.s.–saudi relations had faced many obstacles concerning anti-communism strategy. president dwight d. eisenhower s new anti-soviet alliance combined of kingdom s regional rivals , foes , heightened saudi suspicions. reason, in october 1955, saud had joined pro-soviet strategy egyptian president gamal abdel nasser. furthermore, saud dismissed u.s. forces , replaced them egyptian forces. thus, act had sparked , innovated new , large conflict in relationship. in 1956, during suez crisis, saud began cooperate u.s. again after eisenhower s opposition of israeli, british, , french plan seize canal. eisenhower opposed plan because of anti-soviet purposes, king saud had admired act , decided start cooperating u.s. result, egyptian power declined while us-saudi relations simultaneously improving.

cold war , soviet containment

in 1957, saud decided renew u.s. base in dhahran. in less year, after egyptian–syrian unification in 1958, egypt s pro-soviet strategy had returned power. saud had once again joined alliance, declined us-saudi relationship low point after announced in 1961 changed mind on renewing u.s. base. in 1962, however, egypt attacked saudi arabia bases in yemen during 1962 yemeni revolution because of saudi arabia s anti-revolution propaganda, made saud seek u.s. support. president john f. kennedy responded saud s request sending u.s. warplanes in july 1963 war zone stop attack putting u.s. interests @ risk. @ end of war, shortly before prince faisal became king, relationship rebuilt become healthy again.

as united kingdom withdrew gulf region in late 1960s , 1970s, u.s. reluctant take on new security commitments. instead, nixon administration sought rely on local allies police american interests (see nixon doctrine). in gulf region, meant relying on saudi arabia , iran twin pillars of regional security. whereas in 1970 u.s. provided less $16 million saudi arabia in military aid, number increased $312 million 1972. part of twin pillars strategy, u.s. attempted improve relations between saudis , iranians, such persuading iran remove territorial claim bahrain.

oil embargo , energy crises

in november 1964, faisal became new king after conflicts had brother saud, erstwhile king. us, on other hand, not sure outcome of such unplanned change in saudi monarchy. faisal, however, continued cooperation until october 20, 1973. came low point of relationship before 9/11, faisal decided contribute in oil embargo against , europe in favor of arab position during yom kippur war. caused energy crisis in us.

america s complete israel support against arabs makes extremely difficult continue supply united states oil, or remain friends united states, said faisal in interview international media.

despite tensions caused oil embargo, u.s. wished resume relations saudis. indeed, great oil wealth accumulated result of price increases allowed saudis purchase large sums of american military technology. embargo lifted in march 1974 after u.s. pressured israel negotiating syria on golan heights. 3 months later, washington , riyadh signed wide-ranging agreement on expanded economic , military cooperation. in 1975 fiscal year, 2 countries signed $2 billion worth of military contracts, including agreement send saudi arabia 60 fighter jets. saudis argued (partially on behalf of american desires) keep opec price increases in mid-1970s lower iraq , iran wanted. part of twin pillars strategy, u.s. attempted improve relations between saudis , iranians, such persuading iran remove territorial claim bahrain.

the saudis increase of oil production stabilize oil price , support of anti-communism have contributed closer relations u.s. in january 1979, u.s. sent f-15 fighters saudi arabia further protection communism. furthermore, u.s. , saudi arabia both supporting anti-communist groups in afghanistan , struggling countries, 1 of groups later became known al-qaida terrorist organization.

government purchases

after cold war u.s.–saudi relations improving. u.s. , u.s. companies actively engaged , paid handsomely preparing , administrating rebuilding of saudi arabia. saudi arabia transferred $100 billion united states administration, construction, weapons, , in 1970s , 1980s higher education scholarships u.s. during era u.s. built , administrated numerous military academies, navy ports, , air force military airbases. many of these military facilities influenced u.s., needs of cold war aircraft , deployment strategies in mind. saudis purchased great deal of weapons varied f-15 war planes m1 abrams main battle tanks later proved useful during gulf war. u.s. pursued policy of building , training saudi military counterweight shiite extremism , revolution following revolution in iran. u.s. provided top of line equipment , training, , consulted saudi government frequently, acknowledging them important islamic leader in part of world, , key player in u.s. security strategy.

the gulf war

iraq s invasion of kuwait in august 1990 led gulf war, during security relationship between , saudi arabia strengthened. concurrently invasion, king fahd declared war against iraq. u.s. concerned safety of saudi arabia against saddam s intention invade , control oil reserves in region. result, after king fahd s approval, president bush deployed significant amount of american military forces (up 543,000 ground troops end of operation) protect saudi arabia possible iraqi invasion; operation called desert shield. furthermore, u.s. sent additional troops in operation desert storm 100,000 saudi troops sent fahad form us-saudi army alliance, along troops other allied countries, attack iraqi troops in kuwait , stop further invasion. during operation desert storm iraqi troops defeated within 4 days, causing iraqis retreat iraq.

operation southern watch


u.s. president george w. bush , crown prince abdullah of saudi arabia in crawford, texas, 25 april 2002

since gulf war, u.s. had continued presence of 5,000 troops stationed in saudi arabia – figure rose 10,000 during 2003 conflict in iraq. operation southern watch enforced no-fly zones on southern iraq set after 1991, , country s oil exports through shipping lanes of persian gulf protected fifth fleet, based in bahrain.

the continued presence of u.s. troops in saudi arabia 1 of stated motivations behind september 11 attacks, khobar towers bombing. in 2003, u.s. withdrew of troops saudi arabia, though 1 unit still remains.

2010 u.s. arms sale saudi arabia

former saudi arabian crown prince sultan bin abdul-aziz al saud in white house.

on october 20, 2010, u.s. state department notified congress of intention make biggest arms sale in american history – estimated $60.5 billion purchase kingdom of saudi arabia. package represents considerable improvement in offensive capability of saudi armed forces.

the u.s. keen point out arms transfer increase interoperability u.s. forces. in 1990–1991 gulf war, having u.s.-trained saudi forces, along military installations built u.s. specifications, allowed american armed forces deploy in comfortable , familiar battle environment. new deal increase these capabilities, advanced american military infrastructure built.

foreign policy

upon becoming regent in 2005, king abdullah s first foreign trip china. in 2012 saudi-chinese agreement cooperate in use of atomic energy peaceful purposes signed. abdullah welcomed russian president vladimir putin riyadh in 2007, awarding him kingdom s highest honor, king abdul aziz medal. russia , saudi concluded joint venture between saudi aramco , lukoil develop new saudi gas fields.

rift

alwaleed bin talal warned several saudi ministers in may 2013 shale gas production in u.s. pose threat kingdom s oil-dependent economy. despite this, 2 countries still maintained positive relationship.

in october 2013, saudi intelligence chief prince bandar bin sultan suggested distancing of saudi arabia–united states relations result of differences between 2 countries on syrian civil war , diplomatic overtures between iran , obama administration. saudis rejected rotating seat on un security council month (despite campaigning such seat), in protest of american policy on issues.

saudi arabia cautiously supportive of western-negotiated interim agreement iran on nuclear program. president obama called king abdullah brief him agreement, , white house said leaders agreed consult regularly u.s. s negotiations iran.