Close Menu
    Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • English
    • Français (French)
    Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
    Middle East Transparent
    • Home
    • Categories
      1. Headlines
      2. Features
      3. Commentary
      4. Magazine
      Featured
      Headlines Saad Azhari

      Facts and Myths in the Lebanese Financial Crisis

      Recent
      9 July 2025

      Facts and Myths in the Lebanese Financial Crisis

      6 July 2025

      A New Palestinian Offer for Peace With Israel

      3 July 2025

      Why al-Sharaa’s success in Syria is good for Israel and the US

    • Contact us
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • English
    • Français (French)
    Middle East Transparent
    You are at:Home»Saudi Leverage Useful in Egypt

    Saudi Leverage Useful in Egypt

    0
    By Sarah Akel on 22 August 2013 Uncategorized

    New York Times

    Saudi Arabia has been one of the most important allies of the United States. But it has also staunchly supported opposition to reform and democracy in the Gulf, and now may offer aid to the Egyptian military that could dwarf what America provides. Should the United States continue to view Saudi Arabia as a stabilizing force in the region, or is it a dangerous ally whose policies will lead to more bloodshed and repression? In the latest installment of “Room for Debate,” the New York Times asked several experts to answer this question. The following is Washington Institute counselor Dennis Ross’s submission; read the full debate on the Times website.

    Good statecraft depends not just on using our own means to pursue our objectives, but also the means of those with greater leverage than our own.

    Our direct leverage over Egypt is limited, but the Saudis are the one actor the Egyptian military cannot ignore. King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Saud have made it clear that they will put their nation’s money and their legitimacy in the Sunni world on the line to support the Egyptian military because Egypt’s stability is a vital interest of Saudi Arabia.

    It is not hard to explain why. For the Saudis, there are two strategic threats in the region: Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudis back certain opposition forces in Syria to weaken Iran and they support the Egyptian military to undermine the Brotherhood. We will not persuade the Saudis by arguing that the military is overplaying its hand.

    If we want to move the Saudis on Egypt, we must address their strategic concerns; meaning, for example, that we must convince them that we are prepared either to change the balance of power in Syria or that we will, in fact, prevent the Iranians from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

    But we need them to help persuade the Egyptian military to be smart — to make stability more likely by containing and not violently suppressing the Brotherhood and its demonstrations; to empower the interim government to focus on the economy and governance, not on control; to demonstrate their commitment to a political transition by creating an inclusive process for reviewing the new constitution; and by showing they want a genuine political transition and will support the development of civil society by pardoning those nongovernmental organizations whose only crime was to try to educate people on how to build political parties with real platforms and agendas.

    This will not be an easy sell. The Saudis won’t be easily persuaded that we will address their concerns on Syria or Iran. But if we want to move them to push the Egyptian military toward a more hopeful path — one that reflects both our interests and our values — nothing less is likely to work.

    The Washington Institute

    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleLarge-Scale Chemical Weapons Use Against Syrian Civilians: Military Implications
    Next Article US Treasury Sanctions Hizballah Leadership

    Comments are closed.

    RSS Recent post in french
    • Du Liban indépendant et de son « héritage syrien » (avec nouvelles cartes) 8 July 2025 Jack Keilo
    • Nouvelle approche des Forces Libanaises: Alliances ou Endiguement ? 5 July 2025 Kamal Richa
    • Ce que nous attendons de vous, Monsieur le Président 3 July 2025 Michel Hajji Georgiou
    • Il faut être pour Nétanyahou lorsqu’il affaiblit la menace iranienne ; et ardemment contre lui lorsqu’il détruit Gaza 1 July 2025 Denis Charbit
    • En Syrie, la mystérieuse disparition du corps de Hafez el-Assad 11 June 2025 Apolline Convain
    RSS Recent post in arabic
    • اللعبة البطيئة في لبنان 13 July 2025 عبد الرحمن الراشد
    • الانتخابات النيابية اللبنانية بين غياب مشروع الدولة ومتغيرات المشهد الإقليمي 10 July 2025 كمال ريشا
    • !ليس هذا الوقت المناسب للتساهل إزاء حزب الله.. أو إزاء بيروت 9 July 2025 ديفيد شينكر
    • خلافات “فتح” تُحبطُ خطة نزع سلاح المخيمات 9 July 2025 محمد داود العلي
    • الحقائق و”الأساطیر” في الأزمة المالیة اللبنانیة 9 July 2025 سعد أزهري
    26 February 2011

    Metransparent Preliminary Black List of Qaddafi’s Financial Aides Outside Libya

    6 December 2008

    Interview with Prof Hafiz Mohammad Saeed

    7 July 2009

    The messy state of the Hindu temples in Pakistan

    27 July 2009

    Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany Apeal to the World Conscience

    8 March 2022

    Russian Orthodox priests call for immediate end to war in Ukraine

    Recent Comments
    • Khaled Mahrouq on Why al-Sharaa’s success in Syria is good for Israel and the US
    • Edward Ziadeh on Why al-Sharaa’s success in Syria is good for Israel and the US
    • Giant Squirrel on Holier Than Thou: Politics and the Pulpit in America
    • Edward Ziadeh on As Church awaits a Conclave, President Trump puts up picture of himself as next Pope
    • Victoria Perea on As Church awaits a Conclave, President Trump puts up picture of himself as next Pope
    Donate
    Donate
    © 2025 Middle East Transparent

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    loader

    Inscrivez-vous à la newsletter

    En vous inscrivant, vous acceptez nos conditions et notre politique de confidentialité.

    loader

    Subscribe to updates

    By signing up, you agree to our terms privacy policy agreement.

    loader

    اشترك في التحديثات

    بالتسجيل، فإنك توافق على شروطنا واتفاقية سياسة الخصوصية الخاصة بنا.