Article – Trump's immoral stance in Saudi Arabia could once again make up much of the Gulf

From George Hay and Rob Cox

LONDON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump's acquittal of Mohammed bin Salman, after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents during Thanksgiving week, undermined any rights the government American could claim for his moral leadership.

But what America has lost today from its reputation could benefit the Gulf region in 2019.

Although Trump turned a blind eye to Mohammed bin Salman during the assassination of Khashoggi, the 33-year-old will certainly be miraculously aware of what he was facing, perhaps even condemning the ascendant of the throne to the only president. the United States.

This gives Trump the opportunity to address many of the recent mistakes of Mohammed Bin Salman.

Let us start by putting an end to the meaningless blockade imposed by four states in Qatar, where there is a US military base. Pressures on Saudi Arabia will improve the economy of the region, which has been affected by the halts of trade with Qatar and the reduction of tensions in the Gulf, which worries global investors and reunites families.

Tramp, as the protector of Muhammad bin Salman, who resembles his spiritual father, can claim the end of the war unleashed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, which, according to Save the Children, would have resulted in the presence of nearly 85,000 Yemeni children hungry for hunger and disease. Riyadh at least 50 billion dollars a year.

This is an amount that Saudi Arabia can use to reduce the budget deficit, estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at 4.6% this year without using the so-called "oil weapon".

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global oil producers could generate 1.5 million barrels per day beyond demand to meet demand in 2019. The next natural step OPEC is cutting supplies to push crude oil prices above $ 80 a barrel when Saudi Arabia's budget has reached a break-even point.

The embezzlement of war funding could be counterproductive for Riyadh's temptation to cut OPEC's output in order to raise prices, which Trump would be delighted to do.

Other mistakes, such as a diplomatic crisis with Canada and a series of human rights abuses, may be convinced by Mohammed bin Salman after he was detained by a critic.

It would be an exaggeration to expect the president of all his "America First" interests to put an end to these files. Trump, however, holds the whip for Saudi Arabia with regard to Qatar and Yemen. And will not fail to use only a fool.

(Prepared by Munir al-Bweiti for publication in Arabic – edited by Nadia al-Juwaili)

Reuters