Puts pressure on Iran. Iran's major port and naval base is Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz. It will be extremely difficult to control the Persian Gulf, Strait, and Gulf of Oman without Saudi Arabia.
We have Iraq and Turkey on Iran's western border and Afghanistan to the east. If things ever cook off with Iran, SA gives us an almost full encirclement of Iran forcing them into a 3-front war, as well as starving them by destroying their navy and blockading trade ports. Full on siege mode. In fact I almost suspect the reason we're still in those areas is for this specific reason.
UAE is also important for launching land-based strikes into Iran, and it would be difficult to hold/supply if we had to fend of Saudi Arabia to the west.
SA is probably our shittiest "ally," but the strategic importance is just too great. If we want to hurt Iran economically with embargoes and sanctions, it is much easier to do with SA.
Yes it sucks massive donkey balls but our doctrine is fairly...."proactive"....when it comes to dealing with potential trouble spots.
Because when you sell them planes part of the deal was teaching them how to fly them.
Why exactly did we sell them planes?
Did we learn nothing from training and arming the mujahideen? They will only betray us and kill us.
Puts pressure on Iran. Iran's major port and naval base is Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz. It will be extremely difficult to control the Persian Gulf, Strait, and Gulf of Oman without Saudi Arabia.
We have Iraq and Turkey on Iran's western border and Afghanistan to the east. If things ever cook off with Iran, SA gives us an almost full encirclement of Iran forcing them into a 3-front war, as well as starving them by destroying their navy and blockading trade ports. Full on siege mode. In fact I almost suspect the reason we're still in those areas is for this specific reason.
UAE is also important for launching land-based strikes into Iran, and it would be difficult to hold/supply if we had to fend of Saudi Arabia to the west.
SA is probably our shittiest "ally," but the strategic importance is just too great. If we want to hurt Iran economically with embargoes and sanctions, it is much easier to do with SA.
Yes it sucks massive donkey balls but our doctrine is fairly...."proactive"....when it comes to dealing with potential trouble spots.
USA needs to spend less on disabling Iran and spend more on enabling America.