U.S. expands defense ties with Saudis as Saudis occupy Bahrain

U.S. quietly expanding defense ties with Saudis

By Robert Burns – The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday May 19, 2011 7:46:06 EDT

WASHINGTON — Despite their deepening political divide, the United States and Saudi Arabia are quietly expanding defense ties on a vast scale, led by a little-known project to develop an elite force to protect the kingdom’s oil riches and future nuclear sites.

The U.S. also is in discussions with Saudi Arabia to create an air and missile defense system with far greater capability against the regional rival the Saudis fear most, Iran. And it is with Iran mainly in mind that the Saudis are pressing ahead with a historic $60 billion arms deal that will provide dozens of new U.S.-built F-15 combat aircraft likely to ensure Saudi air superiority over Iran for years.

Together these moves amount to a historic expansion of a 66-year-old relationship that is built on America’s oil appetite, sustained by Saudi reliance on U.S. military reach and deepened by a shared worry about the threat of al-Qaida and the ambitions of Iran.

The quiet U.S. moves in Saudi Arabia form part of the backdrop to President Obama’s speech Thursday, which is intended to put his imprint on the enormous changes sweeping across the greater Middle East. …more