Summary
Paul Aarts
De veerkracht van de Amerikaans-Saoedische betrekkingen
Paul Aarts deals with the thesis that the 'special relationship' between the United States and Saudi Arabia is on the verge of breaking down. The author argues that - although relations have been deteriorating since 9/11 - we are not heading for a divorce. There is still much that binds the two regimes, mainly through the persistent logic of energy and security. The Iraq war did not fundamentally change the picture and neither side seems able to locate a meaningful alternative to the other (although speculations abound). It is wishful thinking that post-Saddam Iraq will reduce the Saudi role in the world oil market and thus will supplant the Saudi Kingdom in terms of US favour. The author also deals with the related thesis of 'the coming fall of the House of Saud'. Here, again, there is more in it than meets the eye. The regime in Riyadh shows more resilience than is often asserted.