Trump backs Riyadh

Author: Daily Times

Saudi Arabia has finally come clean. Sort of. For two weeks it had peddled the myth that Jamal Khashoggi had left its diplomatic mission in Istanbul alive. Then yesterday Riyadh dropped the strategically measured bombshell: the US-based journalist died inside the consulate after a brawl.

Naturally, this version of events raises more questions than it answers. Such as the whereabouts of the body. Or why the need to lie up until now. And why the sudden change of heart. This is not to mention the issue of supporting evidence. Global rights group Amnesty International is calling for the UN to take over the investigation into Mr Khashoggi’s death instead of having Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) — himself a prime suspect — head the inquiry team. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has warned against any kind of compromise that would essentially give a “‘license to kill’ to a Kingdom that puts in jail, lashes and even kills journalists who dare to investigate and launch debates”.

Yet amidst all the condemnations, it has been Donald Trump’s official response which perhaps suggests that his country’s most important regional ally will not entirely come undone. Terming the killing “unacceptable”, the American president went on to welcome the Saudi claims as “credible”. Yet most telling of all is how he was at pains to warn against any retributory action that would pull the plug on the $460 billion arms deal inked with Riyadh last year; whereby the latter wrote a cheque for an initial $110bn-downpayment with the rest to be paid over the next decade. All of which underscores the extent to which the White House is endeavouring to ensure that it will be business as usual. And that the Treasury secretary’s boycott of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) is but a play for the cheap seats; a mere publicity stunt.

The bottom line is that throwing the Saudis under the proverbial bus is not in Washington’s interests. Not when both Russia and China are all too eagerly waiting in the wings; ready to assume the role of rebound partner. Indeed, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted as much last week. Though, of course, Beijing is already the Kingdom’s largest trading partner. This is to say nothing of the Saudi ‘threat’ to trade oil in the Chinese renminbi instead of the US dollar in the event of sanctions. And then there is the question of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance (IMA) — the so-called Muslim NATO — that Trump officially unveiled last May in Riyadh as part of a broader counter-terrorism strategy in the Middle East. It was no coincidence that this was the same trip where the aforementioned arms package was signed.

Thus Trump Town is looking at the bigger picture. Namely, its geo-strategic interests and profit margins. And Riyadh serves both. *

Published in Daily Times, October 21st 2018.

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