Publication

This commentary discusses Saudi Arabia’s alternatives to relying on US military power when it comes to foreign policy issues such as the turmoil in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program. The author contends that Saudi Arabia has at least three options: 1) it could enhance security cooperation with China; 2) it could increase its own military forces; and 3) it could work with Pakistan, or even China, to develop its own nuclear weapons capability. With three options available, the US can no longer assume that the Saudis will simply accept that they must work with the US as they have no other option.