Saudi Arabia and the New Strategic Landscape

Joshua Teitelbaum has studied Saudi Arabia, following the twists of its history and its strategic choices, throughout his academic career. In this essay, he evaluates Saudi foreign policy in the Persian Gulf and in the Arab-Israeli peace process and provides a shrewd assessment of the Saudi-U.S. relationship. He debunks the traditional view of Saudi foreign policy that emphasizes the Saudi concern with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and explains how the true concern of Arabia's rulers is the ideological battle that has been opened up by Iran's push into Arab affairs. Although access to the inner workings of the country may be limited, U.S. concerns with its politics and policies are as pressing as ever.