Thread by @SamRamani2

Saudi Arabia just congratulated Joe Biden on his victory

What does a #Biden victory mean for #KSA and the US-Saudi Arabia relationship?

Read this thread for my thoughts on this important subject.

The consensus is that Saudi Arabia wanted #Trump to win and its belated congratulation of Biden underscored this fact.

A withdrawal of US backing in #Yemen, a new #Iran nuclear deal and possible arms sale restrictions loom not to mention Biden's support for green tech.

Saudi Arabia could respond by deepening economic ties with #China and diplomatic relations with #Russia.

But it knows neither country can supersede the US as a partner, it needs to find a new way to engage the United States.

Invoking the threat of Iran and a normalization with #Israel would have less punch value under Biden than Trump.

Similarly, Mohammed bin Salman's reputation is toxic amongst Democrats, so social and economic reforms could be seen as window-dressing and not be cheered on.

So how can Saudi Arabia re-engage the US?

1) Focus on the common threat of #Turkey's destabilizing actions

2) Try to de-escalate regional conflicts. It could thaw relations with #Qatar and keep an open door to diplomacy with #Iran, as these actions could change its image.

Saudi Arabia's path to preserving its partnership with the US under Biden involves blending elements of its strategies of its GCC partners: the #UAE and #Kuwait, with the aggressive courtship of US companies in its diversification plans.

Will MBS pursue this course? Hard to say