US, Saudi Arabia discuss security agreement, excluding Israel: Report

[Lauren]

THE UNITED STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA ARE DISCUSSING A SECURITY AGREEMENT THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE ISRAEL, ACCORDING TO AXIOS.

BEFORE THE OCTOBER 7^TH, 2023 HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL THE US AND SAUDI ARABIA WERE ATTEMPTING TO BROKER A MEGA-DEAL WHICH ALSO WOULD’VE INCLUDED A PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL.

THE HAMAS TERROR ATTACK SHATTERED TALKS FOR AN AGREEMENT AND SAUDI’S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN HAS SAID HE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE ISRAEL WITHOUT A PALESTINIAN STATE AS THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS RAGES ON IN GAZA, AND ALSO BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS IN LEBANON.

SAUDI’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE LAST WEEK, AXIOS REPORTS, AND MET WITH US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN AND SECRETARY OF STATE, ANTONY BLINKEN.

THEIR TALKS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING  RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED BEFORE PRESIDENT BIDEN LEAVES OFFICE IN JANUARY, AXIOS REPORTED.

THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TOLD AXIOS THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A BILATERAL U.S.-SAUDI SECURITY AGREEMENT SIMILAR TO THOSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS RECENTLY SIGNED WITH OTHER GULF COUNTRIES, WHICH HAVE REINFORCED THE U.S. PRESENCE IN THE REGION.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER EXPANDING INFLUENCE OF RUSSIA AND CHINA IN THE GULF REGION.