Crown Prince Abdullah completes his three-day state visit to France today and, after spending a few days in Morocco, moves on to the United States, in a trip that is demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s determination to broaden its international diplomatic role. He leaves Jacques Chirac for talks with the French president’s former sparring partner over Iraq, George W. Bush.
The Washington trip makes clear that Saudi-US ties remain strong despite their difference of opinion on the Middle East. The crown prince is likely to urge the Bush administration to push ahead with its newfound sense of reality over the need to champion a just settlement for the Palestinians, even if this means ruffling a few Israeli feathers along the way.
Chirac became a hate figure for the Bush White House because he refused to bend on his principled opposition to the Iraq invasion. That the Americans have come to recognize that they cannot bluster at and harangue their allies, but must instead talk and listen to them using the power of diplomacy rather than the sound bite, is largely Chirac’s achievement. By visiting France before going on to the United States, Crown Prince Abdullah is recognizing that success.
The French stay has been characterized by the warmth of the talks between the Saudis and their hosts. Among the issues dealt with was international terrorism and the Kingdom was praised for its success against the menace within its own borders. Terrorism is likely to be a key item on the crown prince’s agenda in Washington as well, but in dealing with it in such detail in France, he has underlined the fact that victory in this struggle cannot simply be won by the Americans alone. It will require multilateral cooperation and firm resolution among all states to crush this menace to modern society.
France, which has been consistent in its stance on Iraq and in its long support for the Palestinians also undoubtedly has a role to play in the Middle East. It now seems clear that as a result of the crown prince’s visit, commercial and military ties between the two countries will be strengthened. The Americans will be wise to accept a greater role for France and, by extension, Europe in Middle East affairs. The Americans have discovered both the advantages and the limitations of their substantial military power. No victory on the battlefield can be consolidated unless the victor then goes on to win the hearts and minds of the occupied people. Washington is only now catching up with planning to this end, which ought to have constituted a major part of its preparations for the invasion of Iraq.
The problems facing the Middle East are not such that can be solved with bombs or regime changes. They need concerted action with global and regional players — the United States, Europe, the Arabs and other states — taking their role seriously. Crown Prince Abdullah’s visit beginning with Europe, through Africa and ending with the United States represents an effort by the Kingdom to contribute what it can to this task.
