With Washington wanting to finally make a pivot out of the region (debatable if such a thing can or should be done) seeking to create more stable and secure partners and allies makes sense to that end. It’s been a dramatic year of change in the region, and I don’t see things slowing down. /11x

The Saudis want to sometimes drive that fancy sports car into the future, not just ride along, and they want to shape the road that leads there. In my time talking to military and government officials there, I was always led to believe they want the U.S. to remain their partner of choice. /10

And the United States needs a strong and stable partner in the region. One that stands against Iran, brings economic benefit, is able to defend itself and Arab partners, that can unite its neighbors…and doesn’t turn to China as it does so. /9

Vision 2030 can’t succeed alone. Riyadh sees the need for partners militarily, strategically, economically, technologically. /8

All of this done with a desire for a more pragmatic relationship with the U.S: One driven by what each can do for the other, setting aside anything that might get in the way of being realist partners. /7

Today’s visit reinforced that:
– Nearly $1T in planned U.S. investments
– Movement toward an F-35 sale
– Heavy focus on AI, tech, infrastructure
– Saudi insistence on a credible Palestinian path forward, however, maintaining their position as a Muslim leader and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques /6

CNAS captured this perfectly this summer in a report: Saudi Arabia is becoming a global swing state, a middle power shaping a new order. /5

www.cnas.org/publications...

The couple years, months, weeks (sometimes days largely) changed that. The Kingdom sees a region and global competition that is shifting fast and understands that staying on the sidelines carries its own risks. /4

When I returned from my year during security cooperation advising in Riyadh, I often told people Saudi Arabia is the neighbor with the incredible sports car in the garage—latest and greatest, knows exactly how powerful it is, but hasn’t wanted to risk being judged for how it drives. /3

First and foremost, there’s a big elephant in the room from the WH press spray with POTUS and MBS. For purposes of this thread (and my station in life for the next 6 months still) I’ll just say I’m not so naive as to say it can truly be set it aside, but alas, we deal with the world as it is. /2

Allowing the outfit to do the extroverting is the preferred option.

Throw “and why McClellan would have been a tyrant” at the end of anything and I’m going to read or listen to it.