The Biden administration has sought to foster the growing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Over the past couple years, relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have improved substantially, largely due to the Abraham Accords, which brokered peace agreements between Israel and several Arab nations such as the UAE and Morocco. Recently, the administration coordinated with both nations to develop an agreement that allows commercial planes the right to fly from Israel over the kingdom. But these efforts belie other foreign-policy prerogatives of the Biden administration.
Specifically, the Biden administration is attempting to broker an Iranian nuclear agreement — a deal withdrawn by the Trump administration — that would ease economic sanctions on Iran on the condition that the Iranian government dismantle its nuclear programs. The intention behind this “Iran Deal” is to reduce Iran’s nuclear capacity for destruction and conflict. However, Israel and other Sunni Arab nations have lambasted the nuclear agreement as strengthening the economic and political power of their historic and regional rival. In particular, Israeli officials have argued that the Iran Deal would increase Iranian state-sponsored terrorism of groups such as Hezbollah that are responsible for a plethora of violence in Israel. Both Israel and Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia have harshly criticized the Biden administration for working with Iran. According to the Times of Israel, for example, last year Israel prime minister Naftali Bennett “told Blinken that instead of a return to the 2015 nuclear deal — which the United States pulled out of in 2018 — ‘concrete steps’ against Iran should be ‘taken by the major powers.'” The Biden administration has also spurned the Saudi government through its lack of support for Saudi intervention in the Yemen civil war. Overall, the Trump administration supported initiatives and policies that better appealed to Israel and Sunni Arab nations, leading to greater goodwill and more economic support from these respective nations.
On the other hand, the Biden administration has faced significant negative consequences for its foreign policy in the Middle East. Following the crisis in Ukraine, Saudi and Emirati leaders refused to speak to President Biden about using their vast petroleum resources to reduce oil prices in response to the Biden administration’s request. The lack of support from Arab leaders during the oil crisis is especially damaging considering the astronomical rise — above $100 per barrel — in crude-oil prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, the American alliance with Saudi Arabia is important for maintaining political influence in the region to counteract antagonistic powers in the region and secure American interests.
The recent decision to foster greater relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia by the Biden administration suggests an inconsistent Middle East foreign policy. Perhaps the Biden administration has realized its mistake in pursuing a nuclear agreement with Iran and in antagonizing useful and strong allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. The strategy and intentions of the administration in the region remain to be seen in the coming years.