Royal Drama: Saudi King Salman Giving President Obama Silent Treatment
It’s like wherever Saudi King Salman goes, drama is not very far behind!
This week, the Sal-man reportedly pulled out of scheduled Camp David talks in order to express his displeasure over US-Iran relations, the New York Times reports. Sort of—he’s still reportedly planning to send a surrogate along with his passive-aggressive message.
King Salman’s decision to skip the summit meeting does not mean that the Saudis are giving up on the United States — they do not have many other options, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “As upset as the Saudis are, they don’t really have a viable alternative strategic partnership in Moscow or Beijing,” Mr. Sadjadpour said.
Message received! But despite Salman’s frankly diva behavior, the US is apparently trying to “make the most of it”:
Jon Alterman, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said King Salman’s absence was both a blessing and a snub. “It holds within it a hidden opportunity,” he said, “because senior U.S. officials will have an unusual opportunity to take the measure of Mohammed bin Salman, the very young Saudi defense minister and deputy crown prince, with whom few have any experience.”
So ultimately Salman’s public cancelation doesn’t amount to much more than a meaningless tantrum. But sometimes a king just needs to know people care!!!!!!!
[image via AP]
