Rise of a new Trump-friendly Middle East

The Saudi crown prince's visit to Washington caps a major transformation in America's relationship with the region.

- Jonathan Eyal Global Affairs Correspondent

"We have an extremely respected man in the Oval Office today, and a friend of mine for a very long time, a very good friend of mine." That was how US President Donald Trump described Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on his arrival at the White House on Nov 18.

Although he is not a head of state and therefore did not qualify for the honours of a state visit, the heir to the Saudi throne who is usually referred to by his MBS initials was treated to all the pomp the US administration reserves for its most distinguished visitors, including a flypast by the US Air Force and a grand candlelit banquet during which Mr Trump heaped even more praise on the 40-year-old prince.

More importantly, MBS left Washington laden with goodies. He got Mr Trump's permission to buy F-35 fighter jets, the latest and most lethal manned air platforms in the US inventory; until now, Israel was the only country in the Middle East able to enjoy such privileged access to US military technology. He also got a promise of future access to US civil nuclear technology.

But above all else, MBS publicly earned the recognition as one of the United States' closest allies. Putting an end to years of tense relations with Washington, Mr Trump declared Saudi Arabia a "major non-Nato ally", a designation which puts the Middle Eastern monarchy almost on par with America's European military partners.

The visit of the Saudi crown prince puts the finishing touches on a spectacular transformation in America's relationship with the Middle East. In less than six months, Mr Trump has overhauled decades of previous US strategic posture in the region. The key question now is whether the US President has the determination and attention to detail that he will require to bring his strategic project to its logical conclusion.

A SAD LANDSCAPE