Saudi Arabia's recent focus on solidifying its relationship with the US is largely driven by Washington's perception of Riyadh as a valuable financial partner. According to Gregory Gause, a professor emeritus at Texas A&M University, US President Donald Trump views Saudi Arabia "like a piggy bank or an ATM machine," highlighting the country's potential for lucrative deals.
Gause argues that if Saudi Arabia can establish a joint AI data centre with the US, it would serve as a strong guarantee of national security. He believes this partnership would provide Riyadh with significant economic benefits and strengthen ties between the two nations in areas such as defense cooperation and economics.
It's worth noting that while China may be Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, the US remains Riyadh's preferred partner for security, AI, and economic collaborations. This suggests that Saudi Arabia is prioritizing its relationship with the US, particularly in the realm of strategic partnerships and defense agreements.
The recent summit between Saudi Arabia and the US was characterized by a focus on deals rather than pressing regional issues such as Sudan, Palestine, Iran, and Syria. Gause attributes this emphasis to Riyadh's desire to secure a stable financial foundation for its economy, which is heavily reliant on exports and international trade.
As the global landscape continues to shift in response to rising tensions with China, Saudi Arabia appears to be doubling down on its relationship with the US as a means of securing its national interests. With significant economic and security partnerships on the table, Riyadh seems willing to prioritize cooperation with Washington over competing interests elsewhere.
Gause argues that if Saudi Arabia can establish a joint AI data centre with the US, it would serve as a strong guarantee of national security. He believes this partnership would provide Riyadh with significant economic benefits and strengthen ties between the two nations in areas such as defense cooperation and economics.
It's worth noting that while China may be Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, the US remains Riyadh's preferred partner for security, AI, and economic collaborations. This suggests that Saudi Arabia is prioritizing its relationship with the US, particularly in the realm of strategic partnerships and defense agreements.
The recent summit between Saudi Arabia and the US was characterized by a focus on deals rather than pressing regional issues such as Sudan, Palestine, Iran, and Syria. Gause attributes this emphasis to Riyadh's desire to secure a stable financial foundation for its economy, which is heavily reliant on exports and international trade.
As the global landscape continues to shift in response to rising tensions with China, Saudi Arabia appears to be doubling down on its relationship with the US as a means of securing its national interests. With significant economic and security partnerships on the table, Riyadh seems willing to prioritize cooperation with Washington over competing interests elsewhere.