How did Saudi Arabia become America's close ally?

KU R NISE ALENCE?

The relationship follows in time in the late 1930 ' s, shortly after Abdul Aziz ibn Saud consolidated the warring Arab tribes into a Kingdom. U.S. power companies had lost oil in the Arabian Peninsula, and asked their government to promote their interests with the new monarch. In 1945, President Franklin Roosevelt met with King Abdul Aziz on board an American ship on the Suez Canal, and they both adapted very well. Roosevelt gave the king health problems to one of his wheelchairs, which the king later called “the most precious possession I have”. Roosevelt was assured that the US, not Great Britain, would control oil in Saudi Arabia. In exchange, the U.S. would offer security to the kingdom: Within a few years, an American military base was established near oil stations. Over the decades, the oil safety deal has become vital to both countries. Saudi Arabia is today the largest client of the American defence industry, while during the administration alone Obama has bought weapons worth a total of $112 billion.

A E ALEANCE?

The 1973 oil embargo was a difficult time. For a year, Saudis stopped selling to The U.S.A., in response to the support America gave Israel in the Yom Kippur war. But both countries were reinstated as they reunited opposition to the Soviet Union. Even the September 11 attacks did not weaken the relationship. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and 15 of the aircraft hijackers who hit the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were from Saudi Arabia, and public opinion in the US reacted strongly after Saudi subjects were allowed to enter the US shortly after the attack before the FBI interviewed. But President Bush, whose family had long - standing business dealings with Saudis, stood by the alliance, and in 2005 he was photographed handcuffed to the then crown prince, Abdullah. In the decade after 11 September, Saudis spent more than $100m on public relations with the US, trying to eliminate the country's image as terrorism exporter.

A E FATHER ERTETE KY IMAZH?

Yeah. Several decades ago, the Saudi monarchy made a silent deal with radical Islamists in the country: It would finance the spread of Wahhabiism, Saudi form of ultraconservative Islam, as well as jihadism around the world, as long as the Radicals did not blow up targets within Saudi Arabia. Saudi money financed Islamic militants in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bosnia, and the Russian province of Chechnya. After 11 September, Saudi officials claimed they had closed the money van. But the secret American diplomatic cables, published in 2009 by Wikiliks, said Saudi Arabia “needs a vital basis of financial support” for al-Qaeda, Taliban and Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-Taiba, as well as Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, giving them <x2m> each year to <x2m>.

Yeah. T E THREEAT E MAN?

In its draconian form of the Sharia Law, the autocratic government of Saudi Arabia is constantly among the worst in respect of human rights. His gender apartheid system considers women second-hand subjects wrapped from head toe, dependent on male defenders, and largely forbidden to go out alone and participate in any form of public life. There is no freedom of religion, and the press is censored. The brutal beatings of whips in public and stone killings are the penalty for crimes such as treason or femohim. The detainees are tortured to confess. Last year, Saudi Arabia sentenced 146 people to death for crimes involving murder and drug trafficking; most executions were beheaded.

INT US ESSECH?

Saudi oil, of course, was only 9% of what the U.S. used last year because of the U.S. oil pipeline revolution. Of greater strategic importance today is the important role of Saudis in counterweighting Iran. Since 1979 and the Islamic Revolution, when Iranian Muslims took American diplomats hostage, the US has seen Iran as the most dangerous actor in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, which practices Sunni Islam, opposes the interventions of Iranian Shiite theocracy in other Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Recently, Saudis have begun working with the other ally of America in the Middle East, Israel, because the two countries see Iran as an existential threat.

TRUMP AFFECTION

The US president has long business relations with Saudis; according to him, he has sold millions of dollars to real estate. “Should he not like him?”, he said while campaigning for president. I love my “.

Since taking office, he has made the alliance with Saudis a priority; his first trip abroad was to Riyadh. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kouchner immediately approached one of the sons of Saudi king Mohammed bin Salman, and the administration strongly supported the establishment of Mohammed as crown prince last year, viewing him as a reformer aimed at modernising the country. But Congress doesn't look so good. The murder of Jamal Khashogg at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month prompted the Senate to ask the president to identify within four months which individual should sanction the US. In moments like this, you must embrace your values”, said Lindsay Graham in the Senate. “No more transaction interactions”.

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