Strong US-Saudi ties will weather JASTA impact: Fahad Nazer

Jeddah, Sep 30: A leading Washington-based analyst feels that firmly rooted Saudi-US ties will weather all possible consequences of Wednesday’s passage of the controversial 9/11 bill, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).

Fahad Nazer, a non-resident fellow with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), told Arab News that the current state of Saudi-US relations is strong and solid.

“Their close cooperation on counterterrorism, the continued Saudi preference for American weapons, the important role that Saudi Arabia plays in stabilizing international energy markets and the $70 billion worth of annual trade between the two countries will sustain the relationship for the foreseeable future,” he said.

In addition, he said, one should certainly not underestimate the massive soft power of “the thousands of Saudis who have studied in the US and the thousands of Americans who have made a living in Saudi Arabia over the years — they have all played an important role in building a level of trust and familiarity between Saudis and Americans.”

Having said all that, he admitted that it would be difficult to argue that the relationship has not experienced strain.

“JASTA’s becoming the law of the land is clearly troubling to Saudi officials,” said Nazer. “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif reiterated Saudi Arabia’s concern for the implications of the legislation and the principle of sovereign immunity. This concern was made clear in his address to the UN General Assembly last week.”

The Saudis have repeatedly said that the legislation could have an adverse impact on the way that international relations are conducted and that the US could leave itself open to similar measures by other countries which would make American diplomatic and military personnel vulnerable to prosecution.

“This is the same argument that senior US administration officials, including President Barack Obama himself and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, have made on multiple occasions,” said Nazer. “The legislation goes beyond straining US-Saudi relations.”

According to Nazer, although Saudi officials are clearly frustrated by the continuing accusations that they are to blame for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, US government investigations have concluded that there is no evidence to support these allegations.

“It appears that Saudi officials take some solace in the fact that many US security and counterterrorism officials give Saudi Arabia high marks for the measures it has taken to counter Daesh and other terrorist groups,” he said.

“Yes, JASTA is now a serious concern, but Saudi officials are well aware that the US administration shares some of the same concerns,” said Nazer. “I think they understand that the American government and public are not monolithic.”

That can also be said of the US Congress, he said, pointing out that there is a stark contrast between the views of Senators John McCain and Rand Paul as far as relations with Saudi Arabia are concerned.

“The defeat of Sen. Paul’s measure that would have blocked $1.5 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia last week suggests that some of the pillars of this relationship, including military purchases and training, remain strong,” he said.

“If one takes into account the administration’s position and various Congressional leaders’ public pronouncements, it appears that a majority of American officials in both parties still appreciate and support strong US-Saudi relations,” added Nazer.