The latest country to find itself in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump is a long-standing ally: Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a campaign rally in Mississippi, Trump claimed that Saudi Arabia would not last “two weeks” without American military support. The move has surprised many as Saudi Arabia was among the first foreign regimes to embrace the president, announcing an arms deal to buy over $100 billion worth of American weapons shortly after Trump took office.
Trump appears to be trying to strong-arm Saudi Arabia into either increasing military spending, or pumping out more oil to lower prices. West Texas Intermediate Crude is going for about $75 a barrel right now, the highest it has been in years. This time last year, it was selling for about $50 a barrel.
Oil prices are particularly important for Trump as high prices at the pump will directly impact his base. Gasoline is a major cost for car-dependent Americans who need their vehicles to get to work, school, and everywhere else. This is especially true in rural areas where distances traveled can be quite extensive.
Trump had previously taken shots at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Saudi Arabia is a chief member. Speaking at the United Nations, Trump argued: “OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world and I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.”
Saudi Arabia is producing about 10.7 million barrels of oil per day. The country has the capacity to produce about 12 million. Already, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will raise oil output. Whether that was due to Trump’s comments or other factors is unclear.
While Saudi Arabia does engage in huge arms deals with the United States, they don’t seem to get much in direct, free aid. Of course, the American government could be selling weapons to the Saudis on the cheap. When Saudi Arabia buys weapons from the U.S., they are supporting American industries. However, those weapons are often used in unpalpable ways, such as bombing Yemen, where civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire.
The United States does not have a large military contingent in Saudi Arabia itself. Instead, American troops are spread elsewhere in the Middle East, including UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. A small number of troops are also based in Jordan. These troops do seem to form a shield around Saudi Arabia, protecting it from Iran.
Saudi Arabia also benefits immensely from its alliance with the United States. Saudi Arabia’s position as the pre-eminent power on the Arabian peninsula is all but guaranteed due to its strong alliance with the United States. Without American support, Iran would be a far more grave threat. Trump apparently expressed his displeasure with the Saudi king, stating: “King, we’re protecting you. You might not be there for two weeks without us. You have to pay for your military.”
NATO, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea and others have likewise found themselves the focus of President Trump’s ire. Many of these relationships are now in doubt. Interestingly, President Trump hasn’t gone after Israel, which is one of the largest recipients of American foreign aid.
With the U.S. deficit set to surge to $1 trillion by the end of the year, President Trump may be looking for ways to cut costs. Given that America’s expensive global military presence is costing the United States billions every year, it could be a ripe source for savings.
