Prince Turki to United States: Veto a State, Lose an Ally

New York Times Editorial

Prince Turki al-Faisal, former director of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence service, former ambassador to the United States and current chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, has written an hard-hitting editorial on the consequences of a U.S. veto of the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN this month. Prince Turki calls for the United States to support Palestinian statehood or risk losing the cooperation of Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies on other regional issues. 

Veto a State, Lose an Ally

Prince Turki Al-Faisal

The United States must support the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations this month or risk losing the little credibility it has in the Arab world. If it does not, American influence will decline further, Israeli security will be undermined and Iran will be empowered, increasing the chances of another war in the region.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia would no longer be able to cooperate with America in the same way it historically has. With most of the Arab world in upheaval, the “special relationship” between Saudi Arabia and the United States would increasingly be seen as toxic by the vast majority of Arabs and Muslims, who demand justice for the Palestinian people.

Saudi leaders would be forced by domestic and regional pressures to adopt a far more independent and assertive foreign policy. Like our recent military support for Bahrain’s monarchy, which America opposed, Saudi Arabia would pursue other policies at odds with those of the United States, including opposing the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Iraq and refusing to open an embassy there despite American pressure to do so. The Saudi government might part ways with Washington in Afghanistan and Yemen as well.

> Keep Reading