Is Saudi Arabia Playing Trump To Its Own End?

FEATURING WILLIAM HARTUNG – Saudi Arabia launched new airstrikes on the impoverished nation of Yemen during Eid-al-Fitr celebrations, killing 10 civilians and injuring many others. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest buyer of weapons, and a significant number of its weapons are obtained from the United States, weapons which it has used in Yemen with the US’s blessing starting under President Obama.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia also managed to convince President Trump that Qatar is a financier of terrorism and has submitted a list of demands to Qatar this week as a condition for lifting an embargo. The list of demands includes limitless financial reparations and the closure of the Qatar-based international news organization, Al Jazeera.

Trump has had business interests in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf Arab nations for years before he became President. Are US-Saudi relations under Trump consistent with past ties, or is it possible that the Saudis, seeing an inexperienced leader who is easily manipulated, are playing the US President to their own end?

Read William Hartung’s article HERE.

William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex.