Waning U.S. Interest Will Compel Saudi Arabia to Find Other Security Partners

Waning U.S. interest in Saudi security issues will eventually compel Riyadh to find other arms suppliers and reduce the United States' influence over the oil-rich Arab Gulf state. On March 19-20, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement hit Saudi Arabia with a fresh barrage of drones and missiles, targeting energy-related facilities in Jizan, Yanbu, Dhahran Al-Janub and Khamis Mushait. The attacks caused no casualties but nonetheless highlighted the substantial threat Houthi rebels pose to Saudi Arabia. The attacks also came not long after a reported resupply and redeployment of U.S. Patriot antimissile interceptors to the kingdom. Yet Saudi Arabia appeared unsatisfied, urging the international community (in an oblique reference to the United States) to do more to stop Houthi aggression in the wake of the latest strikes, while also saying that Saudi Arabia could not be held responsible for oil price fluctuations that resulted from such attacks. ...