Is this preparation for war?<\/strong> \u2013
Separate statements from Riyadh and the US Central Command, or CENTCOM, say the Saudi deployment aims to ensure stability in the turbulent Gulf.<\/p>\n\u201cBased on mutual cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, and their desire to enhance everything that could preserve the security of the region and its stability\u2026 King Salman gave his approval to host American forces,\u201d the Saudi defence ministry said.<\/p>\n
CENTCOM said the deployment \u201cprovides an additional deterrent, and ensures our ability to defend our forces and interests in the region from emergent, credible threats\u201d.<\/p>\n
But for Andreas Krieg, a professor at King\u2019s College London, the troop movement \u201cis part of posturing and the US trying to increase its military options in case of a strike on Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n
Washington and Tehran have been locked in a standoff since May 2018, when US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran and began ratcheting up sanctions against the Islamic republic.<\/p>\n
Trump and his oil-rich Saudi ally have also accused Iran of attacking tankers and drones in the Gulf since last May.<\/p>\n
Iran denies the charges and has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 a chokepoint for around a third of the world\u2019s sea-borne oil \u2014 if attacked.<\/p>\n
Riyadh and Washington have not revealed the number of troops that will be deployed in the kingdom, which lies about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Iranian shores.<\/p>\n
But US media reports said 500 American troops will be based at the Prince Sultan military airbase, south of Riyadh.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive hundred US troops in Saudi Arabia are hardly a buildup, particularly when we are thinking about a war with Iran,\u201d said Krieg.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese troops are there to prepare the Prince Sultan airbase for potential deployment of an air squadron,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The base housed thousands of US troops and squadrons of jet fighters from 1991, starting with Operation Desert Storm after Iraq invaded Kuwait, to 2003 when the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam. <\/p>\n
\u2013 What is the message?<\/strong> \u2013
Analysts say the deployment is aimed at bolstering ties between Washington and Riyadh \u2014 particularly military relations \u2014 strained in the past year.<\/p>\n\u201cThe Saudis\u2026 are saying: if you stick with us we will stick with you,\u201d said James Dorsey, a researcher at Singapore\u2019s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Americans are trying to say: we have your back,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s administration has faced anger from lawmakers at home for not doing more to punish Saudi Arabia over last year\u2019s killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom\u2019s consulate in Istanbul.<\/p>\n
CENTCOM chief Kenneth McKenzie pledged to work \u201caggressively\u201d to ensure maritime safety in the strategic Gulf waterway during a visit Thursday to Prince Sultan airbase.<\/p>\n
The visit came a day after the US House of Representatives voted to block $8.1 billion in arms sales to the kingdom and other allies, in a move likely to be vetoed by Trump.<\/p>\n
There has been growing outrage in the US, and around the world, over American arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with critics saying they are being used for its offensive in Yemen.<\/p>\n
The UN says the Yemen conflict is the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Is MBS a reliable partner? <\/strong>\u2013
Despite the criticism, Trump has repeatedly hailed Saudi Arabia\u2019s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom\u2019s defence minister.<\/p>\nFor the crown prince, also known by the acronym MBS, the deployment \u201cis about showing that the US is still an important security guarantor and committed to Saudi security\u201d, said Krieg.<\/p>\n
MBS, he said, has long been trying to divert some US troops from Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, home to Washington\u2019s largest Middle East military base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important for MBS to get some US assets to show that he is relevant as a security partner for Washington,\u201d said Krieg.<\/p>\n
Around 10,000 US troops are deployed in Al Udeid, from among some 35,000 stationed in Gulf states including Kuwait and Bahrain, the latter being the home base of the US Fifth Fleet.<\/p>\n
Al Udeid was set up in 2005 when the US was looking for a new airbase in the region after it pulled troops out of Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia and its allies cut relations with Qatar in 2017 over Doha\u2019s alleged support for Iran and Islamist movements \u2014 charges Qatar staunchly denies.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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