Saudi Arabia leads the opposition against the U.S.! The U.S. plan was aborted before it even got off the ground! On May 7th, according to foreign media reports, due to Saudi Arabia's ban on U.S. military use of its military bases and airspace for operations, Trump had no choice but to suspend the plan to restart navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia explicitly stated that it would not allow U.S. military aircraft to take off, land, conduct aerial refueling, or carry out related escort missions within its territory. Given Saudi Arabia's opposition, the White House quickly called off the "Freedom Operation" shortly after its initiation.
Evidently, the United States never anticipated that Saudi Arabia would oppose its plan so promptly. Why did Saudi Arabia object? First, Pakistan is actively mediating, and Saudi Arabia certainly does not want a war to reignite. Once the U.S. takes action, U.S.-Iran negotiations will inevitably collapse completely. Second, if the U.S. uses Saudi bases to attack Iran, Iran is highly likely to retaliate with missiles and drones targeting Saudi oil fields, ports, and critical infrastructure, possibly even blocking the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea. This would deal a devastating blow to Saudi oil exports.
Third, Saudi Arabia has absolutely no confidence in U.S. military capabilities. The U.S. decision was made on a whim, without sufficient preparation. Such a hasty move forces Saudi Arabia to risk its national destiny, which naturally makes Saudi Arabia strongly opposed. Clearly, Saudi Arabia’s refusal is a heavy blow to the United States, as it means the U.S. is losing the option of militarily striking Iran. Without Saudi support, the U.S. cannot achieve its goals. In short, whether the U.S. likes it or not, it now has no choice but to resolve the issue at the negotiation table.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864503016966153/
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