President Obama has been trying since his September 2013 address to the United Nations to convince Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf allies that the United States is truly committed to their security. So far, he hasn’t been very successful, but he’ll try again next month at a Camp David summit meeting.
Obama’s approach is part of a big strategic idea for the Middle East that could be described as “dual engagement.” On the one hand, the United States is seeking an agreement with Iran to limit its nuclear weapons. On the other, the United States wants to bolster the Saudis and their neighbors through new U.S. military commitments. The goal is an eventual balance between a less-threatening Iran and a more confident, forward-leaning Saudi Arabia.
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