Saudi’s Anti-Revolution Campaign

Neil MacFarquhar, writing at the New York Times, discusses Saudi Arabia’s efforts to upend the revolutionary progress that has spread across the region.  The most recent steps include giving $4 billion in aid to Egypt’s Supreme Miitary Council, working to transition Yemen’s president out of power, sending troops to Bahrain to put down the unrest, and their invitations to Jordan and Morocco to join the Gulf Cooperation Council.  MacFarquhar highlights the importance of GCC invitation as it is a blatant effort to create a “king’s club” throughout the region to counter revolutionary forces and Iranian influence.  Prince Waleed bin Talal al-Saud, a businessman and high-profile member of the Saud family stated: “We’re sending a message that monarchies are not where this is happening,” and “We are not trying to get our way by force, but to safeguard our interests.”  Saudi’s efforts to counter the revolutionary spring have strained its relationship with the U.S. which has supported the Arab Spring; however, he asserts that little will change in the “oil-for-protection” relationship that has dominated for the past 60 years.