Tension between Saudi Arabia and United States on major defence deal as Mohammed bin Salman adamant on……

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has raised this issue several times.

New Delhi: Following Hamas’ terrorist attack on its soil, Israel has been relentlessly carrying out aerial and ground attacks on Palestine territory Gaza Strip to target Hamas. This has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population as more than 50 thousand people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Israel started the retaliation.

Now Palestine’s neighbouring Arab state and a global power Saudi Arabia, which has very good relations with the United States and the west for decades, is demanding that a sovereign Palestinian state is established along with Israel.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has raised this issue several times and demands for a free Palestine.

Amidst this, Saudi Arabia’s relations with America and Israel have deviated as the Muslim nation has been on improving bilateral ties with the Jewish state for a few years now.

The “friction” is visible as Saudi Arabia has deferred major defence agreements with the USA and is pursuing with comparatively smaller projects. The reason for this change is believed to be the fierce Israeli attacks on innocent civilian population in the Gaza Strip. According to the sources, recognition of Palestine is a condition for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. Without meeting this condition, Saudi is showing reluctance to move ahead.

Reuters quoted two Saudi and four Western officials as claiming that Saudi Arabia had abandoned its desire for a comprehensive defence treaty with the US in exchange for normalisation of relations with Israel. It wants a limited military cooperation agreement because of the brewing anger of the people of West Asia against Israel because of the Gaza war.

The military agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States is expected to be finalised before President Joe Biden’s term ends. The agreement includes joint military exercises, partnerships in defence industries, and promoting Saudi investment in advanced technologies.

The presidency of Donald Trump could further complicate matters. Donald Trump has a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, but his plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not include a Palestinian state. In such a situation after Trump assumes office, the world will be watching how Mohammed bin Salman deals with Donald Trump.

Saudi Arabia has been softening its stance on the Palestinian state’s issue to normalize relations with Israel for some time. Saudi had told the US that a public commitment from Israel to a two-state solution was enough for Riyadh to normalize relations. In the current scenario, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the establishment of the Palestine state a necessary condition for normalizing relations with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also wants to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. For him, it will be a historic achievement as it will increase Israel’s acceptance in the Arab world.