The Obama Administration has plans to sell $60 billion in advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia, which is obviously intended to counter Iran's position in the Middle East. The deal includes F-15 fighter jets, helicopters, and many bombs, missiles, and other accessories like night-vision goggles and could become the largest arms deal in US history. But how will it affect the balance of power in the region? Will a strengthened Saudi Arabia subdue Iranian aspirations for regional dominance?
I see the logic of this move and think it will have positive effects in the region, but those effects will be limited. Because I believe Iran's biggest threat to be Israel (and think Iran sees it that way as well), Iran won't put a stop to its nuclear development program until that threat is removed or neutralized. For that to happen, either Israel has to reduce its nuclear capabilities (if it indeed has nuclear weapons) or Iran has to develop its own nuclear arsenal. Obviously, the former would be the ideal situation but is also the least likely of the two. That leaves the latter situation, and that option is less than desired. Washington has taken a position of supporting the rivals of Iran to balance Iranian power, but despite these efforts, Iran still wants a nuclear program to counter the Israeli threat. Does Washington need another strategy, or will policies like the mass sale of weapons to KSA or continued support of Israel eventually work?
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