President Donald Trump’s harsh and somewhat vulgar words towards Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman have left Saudi Arabia silent, but have prompted numerous comments.
During a speech on March 27 at the FII Priority Forum, before an international audience of investors, including from Saudi Arabia, Trump publicly mocked Mohammad bin Salman. He began by describing his years-long relationship with the “great man” who runs the de facto oil monarchy, and then recounted a private conversation between them: “He looked at me a moment ago and said, ‘I know it’s unbelievable, a year ago you were a dead country. Now you’re the most important country in the world.’ He didn’t think this would happen, he didn’t think he would have to kiss my feet.”
“He thought he was dealing with another failed American president, with a country in decline, but now he has to be nice to me. Tell him,” Trump added.
Trump is no stranger to such outlandish or derogatory statements about other leaders, but this one was surprising given the usual deference he has shown to Mohammad bin Salman and the inopportune timing. The Gulf states are paying the price for the war waged by Washington and Tel Aviv on Iran, and the White House was expected to maintain its partnership with Riyadh, especially given its commitment to the Abraham Accords and normalization of relations with Israel. During the conference, Trump stressed that “the time has come” for Saudi Arabia to step up: “The Middle East will be transformed after the war, and the future of this Region has probably never been more promising.”
However, logic often fails in the face of Trump’s surprise. There has been no official reaction from MBS, and Saudi state-controlled media has not reported on the incident. Saudi political analysts say Trump’s comments may be ignored because of the importance of maintaining the partnership with the US. Umar Karim, an expert at the University of Birmingham, says:
“Because of the war in Iran, these comments will be more forgettable, as maintaining synergy between Washington and Riyadh is more important at this moment.”
In November last year, Mohammad bin Salman and Trump had shown excellent relations in the White House. The prince had promised a trillion dollars in Saudi investment, while Trump did not press for normalization with Israel, which Saudi Arabia associates with a clear Palestinian state. Moreover, Saudi Arabia had received promises of a reduction in Regional conflicts and vague American protection, including arms sales. However, missile and drone attacks from Iran have not been deterred by the American “umbrella”. On March 27, Iran struck the Prince Sultan Air Base, injuring at least 12 American soldiers. This has prompted Saudi Arabia to strengthen its military relations with Pakistan and its partnership with Turkey.
With the US seen as the main power in the war, MBS has no choice but to deal with the situation without overtly reacting. According to the New York Times, the prince has even urged Trump to continue the war on Iran, even suggesting a US ground intervention. Riyadh aims to eliminate the long-term threat from Iran and fears that a prolonged conflict could lead to more destructive attacks on its oil infrastructure, bringing back memories of the 2019 attacks on Aramco.
Expert Umar Karim says that Trump’s statement may show Saudi dependence on the US, but it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords in the short term.