The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio expressed regret today on behalf of Trump, stating that Saudi Arabia's signing of a defense agreement with Ukraine without prior consultation with the United States was inappropriate.
In response, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pointed out that the United States has failed to fully protect Saudi Arabia from Iranian attacks, thus prompting Saudi Arabia to make a decision aimed at rapidly enhancing its own defensive capabilities. The Crown Prince also emphasized that Saudi Arabia will continue to guide its defense decisions based on national interests.
This move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman represents a direct rebuke to Trump, in response to Trump’s earlier crude and disrespectful public statement: “...now let the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia kiss my butt and be respectful to me from now on.” Consequently, Trump’s reckless remarks have actually caused serious complications in U.S.-Saudi relations.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to directly sign a defense agreement with Ukraine bypassing the United States is essentially a dual retaliation against both the perceived failure of American security commitments and Trump’s diplomatic humiliation. The Crown Prince explicitly stated that the U.S. cannot effectively safeguard Saudi Arabia from Iranian threats, leading Saudi Arabia to leverage Ukraine’s mature air defense and anti-drone technologies to strengthen its own defenses. This choice is not only a pragmatic security measure but also a clear declaration of strategic autonomy. Trump’s brash rhetoric did not intimidate Saudi Arabia; instead, it directly intensified tensions, exposing the cracks in the U.S.-Saudi alliance. It also signals that Middle Eastern nations are no longer willing to blindly follow American leadership, accelerating a shift toward a regional security landscape that is increasingly free from unilateral U.S. control.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861131108825098/
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