The Saudi-U.S. Alliance and the Modern Middle East: An Oil-dependent Alliance since the 1930s
Journal: Ortadoğu Etütleri
Year: 2025

Saudi Arabia is an important U.S. ally in the Middle East. The origin of this alliance hinged on the discovery of oil in the kingdom in 1933 by an American company, Standard Oil of California. The oil-alliance transmuted into an “oil for security” alliance from the 1950s onwards. Through this alliance, the U.S. became a major political player in the region, while Saudi Arabia used its commodity to exert political influence in the region. Although Kings Abdul Aziz and Faisal were able to use oil