Running Head: KSA and USA

History of American relationship with Saudi Arabia

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The history of Saudi Arabia relation with America start with 1920, even before
the foundation of Saudi Arabia. The Saudis connected with the Christianity mission of
United States in 1920. Also, an American philanthropist provided financing for the
exploration of mineral resources and water which later became Saudi Arabia. The history
of relationship between these two states also seen during the cold world war when both
these nations have a common view and shared vision that godless communism is a great
challenge (Blanchard).
The Saudis had well settled and established relationships with the Americans as
compared to the British and both these countries never had stable and friendly
environment. The Saudi Arabia and US had hostile relationship in 1970s during the case
of oil embargo and it resulted in the crash of US stock market. Moreover, in 2003 the
Saudi government had a disagreement with US regarding Iraq policies and it held the
approval invasion. The Saudi Arabia has refused to give permission to USA for launching
any direct attacks on Iraq through KSA.
At present, there are several concerns that are being shared by both the countries
mutually, and the most important is the influence of Iran. There is a difference between
the viewpoints of Saudis and US regarding the Iranian supported groups such as
Hezbollah in Syria and Iraq. In 1950s there was a great tension between the relationship
between Saudi Arabia and United States, because the King Saud had a different point of
view regarding anti-communism strategy, so in 1955, the Saud dismissed the US forces
and these forces were replaced by the Egyptian forces
Agreements for educational development among two nations

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The Saudi Arabian students came to US for getting higher education in the United
States after World War II. Because of the strong oil resources the Saudi Arabia is
financially supporting its students and also it is seen that in 1999, these students get full
financial support from their country regarding tuition fee, room rent, clothing, medical
and traveling expenses for supporting these students to visit their country once a year.
Moreover, the students studying in technical and medical field also get bonuses for
pursuing their education (Aarts and Van Duijne).
There were strong political and economic relationships between the two nations
and it can be seen that these relationships have resulted in the development of educational
agreements and also for the Saudi students there were various educational grants with the
help of which these students can gain higher education and they will be able to obtain the
technical and scientific education. With the greater number of agreements, the Saudi
students are getting enrolled in the US educational institutes at an increasing rate.
The statistics show that at present approximately 80,000 students are studying in
the United States and these students are getting educational grants and scholarships from
the educational programs developed as a collaboration between the United States and
Saudi Arabia (Lippman). The relationship between Saudi Arabia and United States on
educational dimension is helpful for the Saudi students to increase their learning, gain
new experience and also to obtain expertise for getting access to the employment
opportunities and getting an understanding of different workplace environments.
Exchange of citizenship

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The United States and Saudi Arabia have developed various programs for citizen
exchange and also it has developed an International Visitor Leadership Programs and
with the help of these programs there is a greater focus on the international level dialogue
program, women empowerment, and volunteerism. Public health issues and
entrepreneurship. The American scholars are working with the Saudi higher education
institutions and these are working for strengthening the curriculum at graduate level and
also to offer new academic subjects to the students at graduate level. It has been observed
that in the last few decades several Saudi students have participated in the citizen
exchange programs (Bronson).
Other Alliances
Although there are various dimensions on which a bilateral trade is seen between
the two nations, but on the other hand there are various factors which create contradiction
among these two nations. But despite these disagreements the common factor that creates
an alliance between the two nations is the oils supply and the contracts and terms
developed on the basis of purchase of oil of United Sates from Saudi Arabia.

The United States has great dependence on the oil of Saudi Arabia.
The United States needs to have strong roots in Middle East to protect Israel.
It was affirmed by FDR that the defense of KSA is of great interest for United

States, and it wanted to move troops in the region (Vitalis).

The Truman also worked for strengthening the relationship between the two
nations and it has been stated by him the territory protection, security and
integrity of the Saudi Arabia is the primary focus of United States.

Mutual relationships to control terrorism

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Saudi Arabia has been a valid U.S. counterterrorism (CT) accomplice, especially
on disturbing Al Qaeda (AQ) components. We work intimately with Saudi powers on a
scope of CT issues, including countering Terrorist financing (CTF), and the United States
and Saudi Arabia cooperate to help different countries in the area counter shared
psychological militant dangers (Blanchard).

Figure 1Increased defense sales of United States to KSA

Trade agreements between the two countries

The number of exports of United States to Saudi Arabia surpassed $35 billion in
2013, including direct exports of $19 billion (a 76 percent expansion since 2009) and
generally $2 billion in administration trades (Engineering, Procurement, and
Construction; Design; Financial; and Legal). Roundabout fares and different products and
enterprises were esteemed at an extra $15 billion (Baalke). The respective Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement gives a gathering to the United States and Saudi
Arabia to investigate approaches to progress financial relations.
Among success on various other factors, Saudi Arabia has followed up on its
dedication to enhance its protected innovation rights administration since being expelled

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from the United States Trade Representative's Special 301 Watch List in 2010. Persistent
changes in its licensed innovation rights administration encourage the Kingdom's
endeavors to build up a differentiated learning economy and enhance the speculation
atmosphere for U.S. organizations.
The Saudi Arabia has the very stable and smooth relations with the USA. Mainly,
Saudi leadership transition, low global oil, Saudi budget pressure, competitive terrorist
threats, make the Saudi more assertive. The Saudi continually supply of energy to the
USA and official bilateral relationships for decades. The Bilateral reunion of the both
countries, basis on the arms sale, security train arrangements, and enhance the counterterror protection from the other countries. The Saudi government has states that Al-Qaida
in the Arabian Peninsula affiliates the Salafist-jihadist groups. The supporters of
terrorism directly threat the Saudi national authority. The US government informed the
Saudi government to prevent Saudis traveled to abroad in the supervision of extremist
group. The terrorist enlargement in the Islamic countries has also increased in Saudi
neighborhood countries in Syria and Iraq. It might be lead to the stronger partnership
with the Saudi Arabia.
Saudi leader also seeks the support of the US to combat the terrorism. In April
2016, "the Saudi government has taken steps to maintain the vigorous counter-terrorism
relationship with the USA" Saudi government enhanced the bilateral relationships to
ensure the safety of the US and Saudi citizens. The US and Saudi government have
officially stated that Al Qaida in Arabian Peninsula originated in Yemen and led by the
Saudi nationals. The APAQ has continued his efforts to inspire, sympathizers to support
finance and engage in conflict outside the Saudi Arabia, and encourages individual acts

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of terrorism within the kingdom" The APAQ operation took place in July 2014, attacked
the Saudi Yamani border checkpoint and killed and wounded many of the Saudi officers.
Some discussion has made to end the terrorism. The members of the Congress
have expressed their concern about the strength of Al Qaida during the course ongoing
conflict in Yemen. The constant attacks and arrests connected to the IS support. Since
2014, The IS supporter has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the United States.
In June 2015, the Saudi IS affiliated commit suicide in the bomb blast in Kuwaiti mosque
and killed dozens of people. Saudi officials have arrested IS Supporters. The Islamic state
poses a different political threat to Saudi Arabia. The defender has demonstrated the
through the recent attacks. The IS leader claimed to established a caliphate in which all
pious Sunni Muslims own allegiance, and they directly challenge the legitimacy of Al
Saudi Family.
In a series of the videos released in December 2015, Islamic states launched a
media campaign condemn the Al Saudi family and tyrant and terrible attacks in the
kingdom and encourage the IS supporter and take over the Saudi government. These
videos point out target the Muslims and support the US government. Some Analyst
exposed the Wahhabis ideology to the Muslim states. The Obama administration
requested to the Congress arranged the amount international military education and
training and provide the fund to the Saudi Arabia. The private security corporation
expended in 2008 in US-Saudi counterterrorism. The USA military features are very
prominent in Saudi military operations.
The USA state travel department has issued the warning in July 2016. This
warning is for the terrorist group some affiliation with ISIL or al-Qaida in the Arabian

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Peninsula (APAQ) targeted the Saudi and Western interest. The current US policy took
steps to help the Saudi leaders to save the economic and security challenges in ways
consistent with US interest. The joint efforts of the Saudi and the US strength the
financial, education and interpersonal relations. It may help to meet the US youngsters
demand for the employment and industrial facility. Thousands of the Saudi students
pursue their higher education in the United States. In 2011, there are significant shifts
come in the political and economic landscape issues. The sensitive issues between the
Saudi and USA remained more prominent such as political reform, unemployment,
education, freedom extremism (Genovese),
The Saudi Arabia military intervention in neighborhood Yemen placed the United
States in the difficult condition. The US officials have shared the Saudi concerns about
the ouster of Hadi government. As a result, it is the growth of the armed extremist threats
from Al-Qaida and Islamic states supports the Yemen. On the other side, Saudi
interference has involved in the US partner. The USA weapon appears to have
contributed the Mass displacement. It results in civilian casualties and structure of the
organization damage. The extremist group has gained the new ground, and Houston
forces are continued to hostile the Kingdom's Southern border.
The Saudi interference in Yemen may also lead to the broader implication to USA
future leadership. The Prince Mohammad Bin Sultan considered himself the leader of the
organization. The failure and success may give shape to the competence and judgment.
The Obama administration voiced against the diplomatic support of Saudi ongoing
operations. The government has provided logistical, and intelligence support to the

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Saudi-led military operations. The US has widely supported the Saudi government at
military affairs.
The joint US, Saudi planning cell was started to handle the military and
intelligence support of the campaign. But many of the members were withdrawn in June
2016. The US assistance members were adjusted over the time for US Selection for Saudi
targets. The US officials have suggested, that US advice and aid in every matter like
economic, education and antiterrorism support the all Saudi campaign. It would be
helpful extend potential scope limits and duration. The US defense Department
spokesman said that "The cooperation that we've to extend to Saudi Arabia since the
conflict escalated again is modest, and it is not a blank check.(Genovese)
The Saudi Arabia remained the US largest trading partner in a year 2015
(Genovese). The trading started in the Middle East. According to the estimation, Saudi
exports to the US more than $22 billion. In 2015, The US exports to Saudi Arabia valued
at more than are valued more than $19.7 billion in the year 2008 (Genovese). It nearly
increases up 54.8 billion. The high value of the Saudi-US Trade is dedicated. The USA
were imports of hydrocarbons from Saudi Arabia. The US also exports the machinery,
vehicles, and weapons to Saudi Arabia. The volume and value of US trade fluctuate. The
Saudi oil trade for declines in the value of Saudi exports to the United States. Saudi
Arabia remains dependent on oil export revenues. It increases the national budget of the
Saudi. The mild oil prices have been viewed in public and official authorities in the UK.
As far as the general terms are concerned, the energy demand is mostly in South and East
Asia. It compensates the oil declining imports in North America. The Saudi authorities

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must have committed to expanding the kingdom's share of the global oil market. It seems
to mix with recent results.
The USA officials have taken the steps continue to tie with deep relationships.
The Saudi Arabia also referred the new strategies alliance for the 21st century. Even they
show some frustration to the USA policy decision and wants to take the independent and
assertive action on some issues. The US and Saudi leaders want to maintain the
commitment both sides of the bilateral relationship. The Saudi Arabia has closely
connected with the United States in defense and security matters. They continually
struggle for the regional developments and creates the positive aspects to remain interact
with each other and spur the cells of negativity. On the both sides. The bilateral ties must
re-evaluate.

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References
Aarts, Paul, and Joris Van Duijne. "Saudi Arabia after Us-Iranian Detente: Left
in the Lurch?" Middle East Policy 16.3 (2009): 64. Print.
Baalke, Caitlin. "A Political and Historic Analysis of the Relationship between
the United States and Saudi Arabia: How the Relationship between the
United States and Saudi Arabia Has Influenced Us Foreign Policy in the
Middle East." (2014). Print.
Blanchard, Christopher M. Saudi Arabia: Background and Us Relations. DIANE
Publishing, 2010. Print.
Bronson, Rachel. Thicker Than Oil: America's Uneasy Partnership with Saudi
Arabia: America's Uneasy Partnership with Saudi Arabia. Oxford
University Press, USA, 2006. Print.
Genovese, Michael A. The Quest for Leadership: Thomas E. Cronin and His
Influence on Presidential Studies and Political Science. Cambria Press,
2015. Print.
Lippman, Thomas W. Inside the Mirage: America's Fragile Partnership with
Saudi Arabia. Basic Books, 2008. Print.
Vitalis, Robert. America's Kingdom: Mythmaking on the Saudi Oil Frontier.
Stanford University Press, 2007. Print.