“Even by the standards of their well-established enmity, the past week has been an especially sour one between Tehran and Riyadh. The Istanbul summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ended in recriminations and resentment after the Saudis engineered a final statement that criticized Tehran. A Doha meeting of major oil producers failed to produce agreement on a Saudi proposed output freeze because of Tehran’s refusal to cooperate. And quiet talks over the annual pilgrimage to Mecca -- a traditional source of strife between the two theocratic states that was further complicated by their January rupture in diplomatic relations -- have just collapsed. The handling of these three encounters among wary adversaries underscores trends already evident in Saudi foreign policy: the increasing centrality of Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s deputy crown prince and defense minister, in shaping Saudi strategy, and the audacity -- even incaution -- with which he approaches the strategic schism between the kingdom and Iran.”
Eli Lake writes: This is the backdrop of Obama's visit Wednesday to Riyadh. But the U.S.-Saudi relationship only appears to be on the rocks. Indeed, despite harsh words about how Saudi Arabia is politically organized and how the Iran agreement enhances its security, the president is doubling down on a partnership that has endured since the 1930s. He has deepened military and intelligence ties with the kingdom since he came into office in 2009. – Bloomberg View
Arthur Herman writes: Obama’s real Saudi problem is himself. By stiff-arming allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel while trying to embrace their arch-foe Iran as well as the Muslim Brotherhood, he has turned the Middle East inside out — while also devastating America’s oil and gas patch, the one bright spot on this administration’s dismal economic record. – National Review Online
President Obama’s chilly reception in Saudi Arabia this week was the culmination of long lingering tension between the two allies that bubbled to the surface over the course of the last year and a half. –The Hill
Economic growth in Gulf states is forecast to slow to 1.8 per cent this year as the oil-dependent region cuts spending to battle fiscal deficits reaching 11.6 per cent of gross domestic product. –Financial Times
Brian Katulis writes: The best course for the U.S.? Using its multiple points of leverage with Saudi Arabia to encourage it to take constructive, forward-looking steps at home and abroad. – WSJ’s Think Tank
Reforms promised by a young Saudi prince are couched in references to the kingdom's Islamic tradition but include ideas likely to upset some conservatives, risking future ruptures over the direction of society. - Reuters
Editorial: After a summit with Persian Gulf rulers last week, President Obama said his aim was to “make sure that . . . we share a broad common vision.” Presumably that endeavor, and the defense of the Gulf states by the U.S. military, is not consistent with the abduction, torture and trial on trumped-up charges of U.S. citizens. So we’re hoping the president took the time to discuss the case of Kamal and Mohamed Eldarat when he met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, on the summit’s sidelines. – Washington Post
Patrick Megahan writes: Ultimately, the Obama administration will find that the Saudis and their Islamic coalition are not ready to meet the region’s security challenges. With an over-reliance on high-end military hardware – and not on practical, real-world training – the Gulf states will be unlikely to provide anything more than the few airstrikes they have already contributed. It is an unfortunate reminder of why the responsibility for regional security so often falls to the United States. – Military Edge