Guide Note

Despite a mutually beneficial military-industrial partnership, U.S.-Saudi relations have been strained during the ongoing War on Terror. The U.S. has has not been convinved of Saudi Arabia's commitment to counterterrorism in the wake of 9-11, while Saudi Arabia has not been satisfied with U.S. efforts towards achieving piece between Israel and Palestine.

Fast Facts

Saudi Arabi controls over 25% of the world's oil reserves¹
The U.S. Department of Defense is the worlds largest oil consumer²
No popular constituency for the relationship in either country
There has been agitation in both coutries to disrupt/sever ties
2003: The U.S. pulled all its troops out of Saudi Arabia
U.S. wants Saudis to combat private financing of terrorism
Important allies during the Cold War

September 11th

On September 11, 2001, four airliners were hijacked from American airports. Three were used as weapons to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania. Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were identified a Saudi nationals, prompting increased suspicions regarding Saudi Arabia's connection to international terror networks like Al Qaeda.

Categories

News | Politics | International Relations | Diplomacy

View Note History

U.S.-Saudi Relations

The Mahalo Top 7

Saudi Arabia US Relations Information Service
Washington Post: 5 Myths About U.S.-Saudi Relations (2006)
Danielpipes.org: The Scandal of U.S.-Saudi Relations
PBS: Analyses: U.S.-Saudi Relations
Harvard International Review: Business as Usual
Council on Foreign Relations: Saudi Arabia: U.S. Relations
Guardian Unlimited: Washington Will Prop Up the House of Saud - For Now

U.S.-Saudi Relations Recent News Stories

BBC: "US-saudi Relations 2007" Search
Ynetnews.com: Report: Saudi Arabia Turning its Back on US (2007)

U.S.-Saudi Relations Background

Policy Almanac: U.S.-Saudi Relations (2003)
Wikipedia: Foreign Relations of Saudi Arabia
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia: Saudi-U.S. Relations
U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council: U.S.-Saudi Relations

Energy

Council on Foreign Relations: Saudis Earn Political Points, Revenue With Extra Oil
Wikipedia: Saudi Aramco Overview
U.S. Dept of State: U.S.-Saudi Energy Relations in the Global Perspective (2002)

Military Cooperation

The World Today: Former CIA Analyst Comments on US/ Saudi Relations (2003)
Council on Foreign Relations: Saudi Arabia: Withdrawl of U.S. Forces
Times Online: "US Ends a 12-Year Military Presence in Saudi Arabia (2003)

After September 11th

American Diplomacy: U.S.-Saudi Relations After the September 11 Debacle
CNN.com: New Pressures on U.S.-Saudi Relations (2002)
Times Online: Q&A: Saudi Arabia's Terror Problem (2003)
The Nation: The Geopolitics of War and Saudis and Americans: Friends in Need (2001)

House of Bush, House of Saud

Democracy Now!: House of Bush, House of Saud (2004)
Amazon.com: House of Bush, House of Saud
Guardian Unlimited: Review: House of Bush, House of Saud (2004)
Salon: "The Great Escape (2004)
Wikipedia: Saudi Aramco Overview
Council on Foreign Relations: The U.S.-Saudi Love Affair Predates Bush

U.S.-Saudi Relations Commentary and Criticism

FrontPage Magazine: Symposium: The Future of U.S.-Saudi Relations (2003)
Center for Contemporary Conflict: Deconstructing the U.S.-Saudi Partnership? (2002)
CBC News: The Fifth Estate: Conspiracy Theories - The Saudi Connection (2003)
World Socialist Web: The New York Times and the Dirty Secret of US-Saudi Relations (2001)
Foreign Policy Association: U.S.-Saudi Relations: H.R.H. Saud al Faisal bin Abdel Aziz

U.S.-Saudi Relations Videos and Audio

Democracy Now!: Juan Cole on U.S.-Saudi Relations
Democracy Now!: House of Bush, House of Saud (2004)
YouTube: Bush and The Prince

U.S.-Saudi Relations Message Boards and Blogs

Crossroads Arabia: [hhttp://xrdarabia.org/?s=Saudi+Arabia+In+Context Saudi Arabia in Context]
Google Blog Search: US-Saudi Relations
Westphalia: US - Saudi Relations Are Dangerous

U.S.-Saudi Relations Central Figures

House of Saud
- Wikipedia: House of Saud

George W. Bush
- Slate: How Does the Saudi Relationship With the Bush Family Affect U.S. Foreign Policy?

Related Searches

U.S. Conflict with Iran | U.S. Conflict with North Korea | U.S. Relations with China | U.S. Relations with Syria | September 11th | George W. Bush | King Abdullah