Changing times again?
The Saudis have done all the right thing so far to place themselves on the right side of the unpredictable Trump White House. They have billions on the ready to help feed the new administration’s expected expansionary fiscal policy inside the US. They have made known how they believe “his Excellency” (Trump) is a true friend of the Muslims. Most importantly, they have understood and praised the so called Muslim ban, and even mentioned how their own little wall on the Iraqi border works so well. And, of course, they are almost at a loss for words about the correctness of Trump’s about-turn on Iran.
Yet there’s still no telling really how much of this afterglow, of the meeting between the Saudi deputy crown prince and Trump and his senior team, is genuine. True, Trump could not wait long enough to reset the equation with Iran. And he does seem eager to do better business with the Saudis than his immediate predecessor. But any realignment of the Middle East, in the present setting, will have to go through the Syrian minefield, and will have to take note of both Russia and Iran. That is where Saudi expectations might well become dust, especially as its promises of battling ISIS on the ground are put to the test. It was because of Saudi involvement in the Syrian civil war, after all, that the Saudi stock tumbled during the Obama administration.