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President Donald Trump's harsh and somewhat vulgar words towards Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman have left Saudi Arabia silent, but have prompted numerous comments in the outside world.
During a speech on March 27 at the FII Priority Forum, before an international audience of investors, including from Saudi Arabia, Trump publicly mocked Mohammad bin Salman.
He began by describing his years-long relationship with this "big man" who runs the de facto oil monarchy, and then recounted a private conversation between them:
“He looked at me a while ago and said, ‘I know it’s unbelievable, a year ago you were a dead country. Now you’re the most important country in the world.’ He didn’t think this would happen, he didn’t think he would have to kiss my feet.”
"He thought he was dealing with another failed American president, with a country in decline, but now he has to be nice to me. Tell him," Trump added.
Trump is no stranger to such outlandish or derogatory statements towards other leaders, but this one was surprising given the usual deference he has shown to Mohammad bin Salman and the inopportune timing at which it came. S
The Gulf states are paying the price of the war led by Washington and Tel-Aviv on Iran, and it was expected that the White House would maintain its partnership with Riyadh, especially for its connection to the Abraham Accords and the normalization of relations with Israel.
During the conference, Trump stressed that "the time has come" for Saudi Arabia to step up:
"The Middle East will be transformed after the war, and the future of this region has perhaps never been more promising."
However, logic often fails in the face of Trump's unexpectedness.
There has been no official reaction from MBS, and state-controlled Saudi media has not reported on the incident. Saudi political analysts say Trump's comments may be ignored because of the importance of maintaining the partnership with the US. Umar Karim, an expert at the University of Birmingham, said:
"Because of the war in Iran, these comments will be more forgettable, as maintaining synergy between Washington and Riyadh is more important at this moment."
In November last year, Mohammad bin Salman and Trump had shown excellent relations at the White House. The prince had promised a trillion dollars in Saudi investment, while Trump had not pressed for normalization with Israel, which Saudi Arabia associates with a clear Palestinian state. In addition, Saudi Arabia had received promises of a reduction in regional conflicts and unambiguous American protection, including arms sales.
However, Iranian missile and drone attacks have not been deterred by the US umbrella. On March 27, Iran struck the Prince Sultan Air Base, injuring at least 12 US soldiers. This has prompted Saudi Arabia to strengthen its military relations with Pakistan and its partnership with Turkey.
While the US is seen as the main power in the war, MBS has no choice but to deal with the situation without overtly reacting. According to the New York Times, the prince has even urged Trump to continue the war on Iran, even suggesting a US ground intervention. Riyadh aims to eliminate the long-term threat from Iran and fears that a prolonged conflict could lead to more destructive attacks on its oil infrastructure, bringing back memories of the 2019 attacks on Aramco.
Expert Umar Karim says that Trump's statement may show Saudi dependence on the US, but it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords in the short term./L orientlejour
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