The United States and Saudi Arabia through the Arab Uprisings

The Arab Uprisings continue to re-shape the political environment of the Middle East. As the epicentres of Egypt, Iraq and Syria draw the bulk of international attention, the impact of the last four years has been felt in more subtle ways, with a reconfiguring of alliances and relationships throughout the region. This article reviews the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. There is a special focus on the challenges faced in the period of the Arab Uprisings from 2010 to 2014, with reference to the role of an ascendant Iran and the emergence of the Islamic State. Through an exploration of the three traditional pillars of the Saudi-US relationship; oil, geostrategic considerations and security, the article charts the current state of the alliance and explores the likely future trajectory of this lynchpin relationship in modern Middle Eastern affairs.