On the part of the US, one of the main achievements expected from the deal is a significant reduction of Chinese technology in the kingdom. Achieving an advanced defense agreement with Saudi Arabia will guarantee the Americans an important foothold in one of the most important countries in the region, against a background of growing influence on the part of Beijing and Moscow. , many doubt Biden’s ability to promote such a move without including Israel and its normalization with Saudi Arabia.
Many view with skepticism the possibility that the American Congress will approve the move, which includes huge benefits for Saudi Arabia, especially in the nuclear field, without the obvious benefit to Israel. Despite efforts on Biden’s part to implement the move in the near future, which will earn him an important political achievement and an important milestone in his foreign policy ahead of the presidential elections in November.
According to the report, as soon as Saudi Arabia and the US complete the agreement, they will present it to Prime Minister Netanyahu, with a proposal: “Join the deal, which will win you a historic agreement for normalization with Saudi Arabia, or you will be left behind.” The clear and definite condition for Netanyahu to join the move is to end the war in the Gaza Strip, and agreeing to a future outline that will allow the establishment of a Palestinian state to be promoted.
Netanyahu, for his part, repeats and declares all the time that he will not agree to any condition of ending the war without the completion of the goal of “total victory” over Hamas. Israel has been emphasizing recently that they will not give up on the goal of a large-scale operation in Rafah, and Netanyahu himself said this week that an operation in Rafah will happen “with or without a hostage deal.” Yesterday Blinken reiterated in his meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem that the US opposes any large-scale operation in Rafah.
Just yesterday, it was reported in the British Guardian that the US and Saudi Arabia are preparing a “Plan B” for their agreement, in case Israel does not agree to the terms of ending the war and does not join the move. According to the report, the two countries will advance a move to establish a civilian nuclear program in their area, but at least in the first years Saudi Arabia will not be able to enrich uranium on its territory.
At the beginning of the week, American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said during his visit to Riyadh that “the US and Saudi Arabia have recently done very intensive work regarding the agreement between them.” He also said that he estimates that the agreement between the countries is “very close to completion”. During his visit this week Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also met with Abu Mazen this week. According to the Palestinian ambassador in Riyadh, the Saudi crown prince told the Palestinian president: “We are with you and we will not leave you.”