A new king faces many old headaches, but with the same strong ties to the US

What the Arabic-language media is saying about US-Saudi relations, featuring Al Hayat, Annahar and Asharq Al Awsat.

US president Barack Obama and new Saudi leader, King Salman. Photo: Saudi Press Agency / Reuters

President Barack Obama’s visit to Riyadh was very significant because it confirmed Saudi Arabia’s regional and international influence on the political and economic levels.

Randa Taqieddine, writing in the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, said it dissipated recent speculation that Saudi Arabia was shrinking as a point of reference in US policy because of the energy independence that has come with America’s domestic oil boom.

“Saudi’s regional politics are particularly consequential for the US, mainly in terms of the fight against terrorism, ISIL and other regional threats,” she wrote.

Washington is keen to know what direction a Saudi Arabia under King Salman will take with regard to oil policies. For his part, the new king made certain that he reaffirmed the continuity of policy on this issue.

“Saudi is determined to protect its 9.6 million barrels per day share in the global oil market despite the sharp drop in oil prices,” Taqieddine added.

The kingdom doesn’t set prices, those are determined by the market. But it has also not agreed to reduce production levels in order to benefit other producers in the US or Russia. This has led many small producers to shut down.

“Saudi has no desire to have a role in setting the stage for increased fossil oil production in the US at risk of detriment to its own interests,” she wrote.

“Elevated oil prices would also mean that oil-producing countries like Russia and Iran would have the means to offer additional support to the Syrian regime, Hizbollah and the Houthis.”

Meanwhile, the paper noted that President Obama seemed to be pressing ahead with his plans for rapprochement with Iran. Taqieddine noted that he seemed to be paying particular attention to securing a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic and this was based on his conviction that it would turn over a new leaf in terms of how it does politics in the region.

“But his analysis may be flawed,” she said. Any detente in US-Iranian relations wouldn’t necessarily mean that Iran would break its alliances with Hizbollah, Bashar Al Assad and the Houthis, especially if economic sanctions were unconditionally removed as part of a nuclear deal.

Sarkis Naoum, writing in the Lebanese daily Annahar, said Saudi Arabia’s biggest challenge in the foreseeable future would be if Iran, its historic rival, were to strike a deal with Washington over its nuclear programme.

“A return to international prominence for Tehran would only strengthen its Shiite allies in the Arab world, leaving Riyadh alone to deal with the increasing problems among Sunnis in these countries – namely the Muslim Brotherhood that directly challenges the Saudi monarchy,” he wrote.

Clear diplomatic messages were relayed by both parties during Mr Obama’s four-hour visit to the kingdom. He showed up at the head of a large delegation of senior government officials. And King Salman made sure to welcome his guests with an equally large delegation that included the crown prince and several ministers.

Salman Al Dosari, writing in the London-based daily Asharq Al Awsat, said the message was clear: the strategic alliance between the two countries will continue and gain in strength regardless of their differences.

“Saudis are well aware of the crucial role that the US plays, and Washington, too, knows it wouldn’t find a better strategic partner than Riyadh, which for the past 70 years, has been an agent of political and economic stability,” he wrote.

Translated by Racha Makarem