Hoffman Saudi Syria
Saudi Arabia and Syria are both members of the Arab League. (NYT Chivers October 14, 2012)
Relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia have become diplomatically strain because of Saudi Arabia's support for the rebels. Saudi Arabia supports the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power. (NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
Saudi Arabia would like to establish a new government in Syria that will appeal to Saudis interests without plunging the region into violent turmoil. Saudi Arabia has closed its embassy in Syria (NYT Barnard January 11, 2013)
The Saudis are afraid that the people they rule over will want a democracy inside Saudi Arabia instead of being ruled by a royal family. (NYT Chivers October 14, 2012)
Saudi Arabia is attempting to increase their power and control and the Middle East by ensuring that monarchies stay in power in neighboring countries. (NYT Chivers October 14, 2012)
Saudi Arabia is helping neighboring countries that also have monarchies put down uprisings. For example Saudi troops came into Bahrain last year to help the monarchy quell an uprising by the country's Shiite majority. They want to do this by adding Morocco and Jordanian kingdoms. Saudi Arabia is attempting to add Egypt to their group as well. (NYT Chivers October 14, 2012)
Egypt is in a bad spot because they need the billions of dollars pledged in Saudi aid because of their financial crisis so they cannot afford to say no to anything Saudi Arabia asked for. (NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
If Saudi Arabia wants to keep their people happy under the monarchy they will have to spend a lot of money to enrich the lives of their citizens and make them feel like a democracy would only put them further down.
(NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
Saudi Arabia has vast oil supplies that the United States depends upon heavily. In January 2011 there was unrest in Tunisia and Egypt as both countries found their leaders gone. King Abdullah spent some of his reserves to the tune of $130 billion to insulate the royal family from growing unrest in Saudi Arabia. (NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
Their government is plagued by problems inside their borders and with their neighbors. The Saudis have been dealing with Iran over that nation's nuclear program. Saudi Arabia and Iran have a history of not getting along. (NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
Also putting pressure on the monarchy of Saudi Arabia is the Arab spring, an alliance of moderate Arab states that are willing to work with the US and promote peace with Israel. Saudi officials were unhappy with President Obamas handling of the new regime in Egypt and the United States was angry in March 2011 when the Saudis sent 1000 troops to Bahrain to put down protest by the Shiites. (NYT Sanger October 14, 2012)
These disagreements were put to rest when president Obama began a broad 10 year program to sell $60 billion in arms to the Saudis. (NYT Barnard January 11, 2013)
In May 2012 Saudi Arabia formed the Gulf Cooperation Council with many of its neighboring countries including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Saudis have used this Council to try and band together countries against the Democratic trend. (NYT Barnard January 11, 2013)
Many believe that Saudis are secretly providing money to extremist groups to try to stop changes happening in the Arab world. (NYT Barnard January 11, 2013)