Saudi Arabia

While Saudi Arabia attempts to transform its economy and society and diversify away from dependence on oil, it has also embroiled itself in the conflict in Yemen, blockaded its neighbor Qatar, and led a crack down on dissenters such as murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The conservative Kingdom has also been confronted by an increasingly hostile Iran that threatens to pull the entire region into conflict. The challenges and opportunities mean that the US Saudi relationship remains strategically vital for US interests and for the stability of the region.