Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

Biden rebuffed, US relations with Saudi and UAE hit new low

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Apr 2022 09:15
4 Min Read

The US' two main Arab allies in West Assia are questioning the basis of their relationship with Washington.

  • x
Professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a noted scholar in political science, described the crisis with Washington as the worst in “50 years”.
Professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a noted scholar in political science, described the crisis with Washington as the worst in “50 years”.

With Joe Biden now opening up his country's strategic oil reserves, questions have been increasing regarding the role being played by the US' two most important Arab allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The two countries have so far declined to speak with the US President, who is trying to counter the rise in global oil prices that was prompted by the destabilization of the energy markets amid the war in Ukraine. What's different this time is that both countries have been frank about their refusal to increase their oil production outside the confines of OPEC+ and lower energy prices, according to The Guardian.

This refusal by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to acquiesce to US requests has driven their relations with Washington to a new low, so much so that they're seriously questioning the foundations of their relationship, while Russian wealth flowing into Dubai is further inflaming things.

Divorce

Moreover, there is the matter of the nuclear talks with Iran, which could see a revival of the JCPOA. Officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have been blunt in recent weeks with visiting diplomats regarding their grievances and how far they're prepared to take them. One Western diplomat related that a Saudi counterpart of his said, “This is the end of the road for us and Biden, but maybe the US also.”

Related News

Supreme Court clears fast-track deportations to random third countries

China-US trade falls 10.4% in H1-2025 to $289.36 billion

Read more: MBS and MBZ decline calls with Biden, pressure US amid oil turmoil

Mohammed Al-Yahya, Al-Arabiya's former editor-in-chief published his views in the Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post, saying the Saudi-US relationship is amid a crisis. “I am increasingly disturbed by the unreality of the American discussion about the subject, which often fails to acknowledge just how deep and serious the rift has grown," he said.

He further added, “A more realistic discussion should focus on one word: divorce. When Barack Obama negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran, we Saudis understood him to be seeking the breakup of a 70-year marriage."

Al-Yahya goes on to ask why the US' regional allies should help contain Russia in Europe while the US strengthens Russia and Iran in West Asia. 

US demands amid US pullback

On the other end of the spectrum of the US' demands lies China's no-strings diplomacy, which is a pretty straightforward deal: give us oil and choose what military equipment you want. "In return, help us to stabilize global energy markets."

The White House's Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, has been a frequent visitor to Riyadh in recent months and has been attempting to repair a relationship that fell in disrepair after Biden's inauguration when he refused to speak with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Mohammad bin Salman (MBS).

MBS and his Emirati counterpart, Mohammad bin Zayed (MBZ) are both wary of the US administration's decision to pursue the nuclear deal, which would give Iran sanctions relief and empower its economy. Added to this is the fact that Saudi Arabia and the UAE perceive that the US has been decreasing support for their war on Yemen. Washington was silent after Ansar Allah launched their first retaliatory attack on the UAE.

Read more: US military boosts support for Saudi Arabia as it bombs Yemen: Biden breaks promise to end war

The UAE, for its part, felt snubbed by Washington after the latter did not sign a deal to supply the Emirates with F-35 fighter jets following the normalization deals. This was exacerbated by the Biden administration's objection to sovereign Emirati decisions, such as receiving Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and it pressuring Abu Dhabi to increase oil production outside the context of OPEC. 

“All this comes at a time when America is no longer the only superpower in the world, which prompted the UAE and other countries to diversify partners," according to Professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a noted scholar in political science.

  • United States
  • United Arab Emirates
  • UAE
  • US
  • Emirates
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS