Prince Turki Al-Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia wants to see a commitment from Washington, which means not withdrawing U.S. defense equipment from its territory. In an interview with American network CNBC, Al-Faisal said, "I think we need reassurance regarding American commitment." He clarified that the commitment involves "for example, not withdrawing Patriot missiles from Saudi Arabia at a time when Saudi Arabia is a victim of missile and drone attacks—not just from Yemen, but from Iran."
The United States had bolstered its military presence in Saudi Arabia in 2019 following attacks on oil facilities in the country. Washington accused Tehran of being behind those attacks, which Iran completely denied. In June, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of eight missile batteries from the Middle East, including the THAAD missile defense system that had been deployed in Saudi Arabia. The THAAD system was deployed in Saudi Arabia after airstrikes targeted two strategic oil sites in the kingdom.
According to Al-Faisal, withdrawing Patriot missiles from Saudi Arabia "is not an indication of the goodwill that America has publicly declared in helping Saudi Arabia defend itself against external enemies." The prince mentioned that Saudi Arabia prefers American assistance but hinted that Riyadh requested "another kind of support" to bolster its air defenses against Iranian and Houthi attacks.
Al-Faisal asserted that the United States should seriously consider demonstrating its support for the Middle East at this stage, particularly following Washington's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing crisis in Kabul. Military experts believe that the American decision will lead to a significant shift in the balance of power in the region, viewing it as a strategic decision that may indicate a change in U.S. policy towards the area.
In April, Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica McNulty confirmed that the United States would continue to support Saudi Arabia against the attacks it faces. She added that the kingdom still faces security threats from Yemen and elsewhere, emphasizing that the U.S. is committed to continuing its support for Saudi Arabia to enhance its capabilities to defend its territory against these threats.
As the United States begins to scale back its military capabilities in the Gulf, the Pentagon established a group of experts called the "Tiger Team" to find ways to help Saudi Arabia protect its facilities and oil, according to the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper indicated that, in exchange for reducing military presence, there are other alternatives on the table for Saudi Arabia, such as selling defensive weapons like interception missiles, expanding intelligence-sharing, additional training, and military exchange programs, according to officials.
Days ago, the American diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia condemned a missile attack carried out by the Houthis on the Eastern region. The mission affirmed the United States' commitment to its long-term strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, in addition to its commitment to assist the kingdom in defending its people and territory.
In early September, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, that the United States is committed to standing by Saudi Arabia following a Houthi attack on the city of Abha. Blinken expressed the strong commitment of the United States to its long-term strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and its assistance in defending its people and territory.
