King Salman?s decision to skip the summit meeting does not mean that the Saudis are giving up on the United States ? they do not have many other options, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ?As upset as the Saudis are, they don?t really have a viable alternative strategic partnership in Moscow or Beijing,? Mr. Sadjadpour said.
But, he added, ?there?s a growing perception at the White House that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are friends but not allies, while the U.S. and Iran are allies but not friends.?
But, he added, ?there?s a growing perception at the White House that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are friends but not allies, while the U.S. and Iran are allies but not friends.?



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