Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is described as an “incredibly transformative figure” who holds influence not only as the de facto head of Saudi Arabia but also as a key leader in OPEC and the Gulf Arab states, especially with Iran’s capabilities weakened. Saudi Arabia is seeking a formal security guarantee from the US, building on their existing 80-year relationship. On the US side, a critical goal for the president is to gain acquiescence to his 20-point Gaza plan, which seeks to move toward Palestinian statehood. This plan was a significant diplomatic win, having just been approved by the UN Security Council with abstentions from Russia and China, leaving only Israel in opposition.
A key, often-overlooked aspect of the partnership is MBS’s role in the global energy market. The Crown Prince has actively partnered with the US to maintain lower oil prices by influencing OPEC Plus to overproduce, a policy that directly counters high-affordability concerns in the US. This cooperative relationship is a stark contrast to the dynamic during the previous administration, where MBS consistently resisted calls for increased production. The relationship is considered incredibly important for the US, especially as China and Russia actively court the Middle Eastern nation, with the potential sale of expensive F-35 jets likely being a point of discussion.
Furthermore, the discussion touched on Saudi Arabia’s push for economic modernization, which includes massive “giga projects” and a focus on becoming a significant player in Artificial Intelligence. This AI ambition, which requires data centers and advanced technology, makes US cooperation essential, particularly concerning the supply of top-tier Nvidia chips, which China lacks. This technology and oil relationship is mutually beneficial, with low oil prices starving Russia of revenue, thereby aiding the US-backed war effort in Ukraine, while simultaneously keeping US domestic oil production stable.
