Recent reports suggest that the Biden Administration is aiming for the Middle East deal of the century: normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, in exchange for Israeli promises towards Palestinian statehood and significant concessions from the United States to Riyadh. On its face, this looks like an enormous bargain that could reshape the Middle East and redefine the foreign policy record for President Biden. But there’s a catch. The concessions the United States would have to make are morally repugnant, and a scathing insult to Americans who have had to bear the burden of over two decades of conflict in the Middle East.
The Saudis are asking for two major items from Washington as part of this effort. First, they want American support for a “civilian” nuclear program. Second, they’re looking for an American security commitment — similar to NATO’s Article V guarantee which would commit the United States Armed Forces to come to Riyadh’s defense. Both of these concessions should be fundamentally unacceptable both to the White House and to the American people. It is deeply concerning that they’re even on the table, let alone likely bargaining chips.
Two decades ago, fifteen Saudi nationals participated in the 9/11 hijackings that took the lives of over 3,000 Americans and contributed to trapping Americans in a two decade debacle in Afghanistan, at the cost of trillions of dollars, thousands more American lives, and tens of thousands wounded. Saudi diplomat Fahad al-Thuamiry even assigned associates to assist the hijackers as they arrived on American soil. This participation by Saudi nationals in one of the most egregious attacks on American soil is no coincidence. The Kingdom has long invested billions of dollars in spreading Wahhabism, a strict interpretation of Islam that has contributed significantly to religious unrest across the greater Middle East.
Just over five years ago, Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Kashoggi was suffocated, dismembered by saws, and dissolved in acid in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. It was soon learned that this horrific murder was ordered by Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Further compounding the already poor human rights record of Saudi Arabia — one of the most oppressive autocracies in the world — Human Rights Watch reported just last year that Saudi border guards were engaged in the systemic rape, abuse, and murder of migrants along the Yemeni border. The watchdog organization stated that if the behavior was official Saudi policy, it would constitute a crime against humanity.
Even setting aside the moral atrocities that the Saudi Crown has undertaken, the Saudis are a terrible partner. The United States already has over $100 billion in outstanding Foreign Military Sales to the Kingdom, and partners closely with the country on intelligence sharing and military support. Despite this, even simple requests, like the one President Biden made in 2022 to keep oil production up to lower global prices, are often ignored. The Saudi war in Yemen stands as an example of the Kingdom pursuing unrealistic military goals counter to U.S. wishes. A security guarantee with such a nation would be foolhardy at best.
Taken all together, it’s shocking that an American president is honestly considering asking Congress to commit the lives of American men and women to the abhorrent Saudi Crown — let alone help them enrich Uranium. The Saudi government has even publicly stated that they would happily and earnestly pursue nuclear weapons if their regional rival Iran acquires one. No one elected to represent the American people should be comfortable with these concessions, regardless of the supposed payoff.
Both Israel and Saudi Arabia have good incentives to normalize relations and start working together. In fact, they have begun cooperating behind the scenes already, sharing intelligence on mutual security interests. History suggests both countries have the will and incentives to hammer out a deal. That deal should not require the United States to sacrifice its core values, commit American troops to defend a violent and corrupt autocrat, and hand the tools to make a nuclear bomb to one of the biggest troublemakers in the Middle East.
Robert Clarke is a Young Voices contributor working on foreign affairs and national security in Washington, D.C.. His commentary on U.S. foreign policy has appeared in The American Conservative, The National Interest, RealClearDefense, and the Financial Times. Follow him on X at @ClarkeDynamics
