ASSESSMENTS

Kuwait: The Saudis' Key Ally at a Difficult Time

Oct 24, 2013 | 15:39 GMT

Kuwait: The Saudis' Key Ally at a Difficult Time
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah speaks at the U.N. General Assembly in late September.

(MARY ALTAFFER-POOL/Getty Images)

Summary

There are reports that Kuwait is the frontrunner to fill the U.N. Security Council seat rejected by Saudi Arabia. If true, it would benefit Riyadh and could in fact be part of Saudi Arabia's strategy. The Saudis rejected the seat Oct. 18 as part of their effort to pursue a more assertive foreign policy. The geopolitical interests of Kuwait, an ally of Saudi Arabia for more than a century, align with those of the Saudis. However, Kuwait will take a softer stance while the Saudi kingdom becomes more hawkish.

Putting Kuwait on the Security Council would free Riyadh to be more aggressive in the face of U.S.-Iranian negotiations....

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