Saudi Arabia Shifts Focus to Limited Military Cooperation with US, Stalls Defense Pact Over Palestine Issue
Riyadh – Saudi Arabia has stepped back from its pursuit of an ambitious defense pact with the United States, opting instead to focus on a more limited military cooperation agreement. This shift comes after stalled negotiations with the US, which were originally contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.
While Saudi Arabia had shown some flexibility in its stance towards Israel, it has been unable to move forward with the agreement due to a lack of public commitment from Israel regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state. Saudi officials had hoped for a clearer pledge from Israel on the issue, but the absence of such a commitment has halted progress on the broader deal.
Instead of the large-scale defense agreement, Saudi Arabia is now proposing a more focused military cooperation arrangement with the US, which would include expanded joint military exercises and strengthen defense partnerships between the two nations.
Saudi officials have reiterated their expectation that Israel must demonstrate concrete steps toward establishing a Palestinian state before any formal normalization of relations can take place. This lack of progress has now shifted the conversation towards a more measured approach in defense collaboration.
Analysts suggest that this new direction could increase pressure on both the US and Israel, especially in the context of the ongoing Palestinian issue. Saudi Arabia's stance on Palestine remains consistent with its long-term foreign policy objectives, and this move could signal a shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
This development has the potential to reshape the diplomatic landscape of the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia's actions likely to influence future engagements with both Israel and the United States.
