The U.S.-Saudi Reconfiguration Is Real and It No Longer Depends on Israel

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has been fundamentally reconfigured, with Washington's leverage greatly reduced by global strategic pressures. Saudi Arabia has skillfully used this new dynamic to secure major defense, technology, and nuclear cooperation agreements from the U.S. without normalizing relations with Israel. A centerpiece of the new partnership involves developing Saudi Arabia’s vast reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are vital for advanced defense systems. This strategic alignment is driven by American imperatives to counter China's supply chain dominance, secure energy markets, and bolster its own industrial base.