The United States and Saudi Arabian have signed business and arms deals worth billions of dollars to enhance mutual cooperation in various fields of economy and counter the growing influence of Iran in the Middle East. During his first visit to any foreign country, President Donald Trump attended a so-called Islamic conference and ensured the Saudi King of all his help against Iran. Without explaining any valid reasons, Trump also called upon the Arab and Muslim nations to isolate Iran, giving an impression that the military alliance of the Muslim countries is against none other, but Iran. According to the Saudi energy minister, the bilateral deals involving $200 billion have been signed, showing a growing interest of the US corporate sector in Saudi Arabia. It is worth noting that only Saudi Arabia’s prime petroleum company, Aramco, has signed agreements worth $50 billion with various US firms while dozens of Memorandums of Understanding have been signed by the two sides to materialize the deals. Another agreement between Saudi Aramco and National Oilwell Varco of the United States involves drilling rigs and equipment with total investment of $6 billion.
The General Electric has signed business deals worth $15 billion, involving almost $7 billion of goods and services from the company itself while the deals range from the power to healthcare sectors. The US company will also launched various projects and operations in the country, including provision off digital technology, cooperation in the medical research and various training programmes. Another agreement between the two countries will be signed next year to conduct a study on a potential petrochemical project in Texas. The programme also include the production 1.8 million tons of ethylene per year to feed a monoethylene glycol unit. On the defence side, a US company will help Saudi Arabia develop defence, aerospace and security capabilities.
It is the right of every country to devise policies to protect its national interests, but alliance against an Islamic country will only spoil peace in the already volatile region. One fails to understand what has prompted the Saudi authorities to create a Nato-like group in the guise of the Islamic military alliance. The pathetic part of the situation is that Pakistan is also part of it. It seems the policymakers in Islamabad have failed to devise a foreign policy devoid of any foreign pressure. No doubt Pakistanis have great respect for Hejaz, but Iran is also our immediate neighbor and a balanced approach is need of the hour. Pakistanis have religious, cultural and brotherly relations with Iran more than Saudi Arabia and relations with one should not be established on the cost of the other.
