By pushing helicopters and fighters to the Saudis, the US is stealing the scene from Iran, and removing the perception that it is the only rising power in the region. Given global concerns about Iran’s nuclear course, along with doubts about US power in the Middle East and fear about Israel striking Iran on its own, President Barack Obama and King Abdullah have raised the ante in a high stakes effort to create a new, stable balance of power.
It might seem unlikely that a raft of sophisticated arms under Saudi control really can stabilise the neighbourhood and change both the calculations of Iran’s nuclear protagonists and Israel’s hawks. Critics will say the move will quickly backfire and ignite a new regional arms race. But, oddly, both of these scenarios can be simultaneously true.
What is important is that the US sale is an attempt by Mr Obama’s team to bolster the capacity of one of Iran’s natural regional rivals, without encouraging either a regional war or Israeli bomb-dropping.
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