What's at Stake in Biden's Push toward Saudi-Israeli Normalization?

What’s at Stake in Biden’s Push toward Saudi-Israeli Normalization?

Posted: August 1st, 2023

By Norman T. Roule

Norman T. Roule is a geopolitical and energy consultant who served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran (NIM-I) at the ODNI from 2008 until 2017. As NIM-I, he was the principal Intelligence Community (IC) official responsible for overseeing all aspects of national intelligence policy and activities related to Iran, to include IC engagement on Iran issues with senior policymakers in the National Security Council and the Department of State.

SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — The Biden administration is reportedly taking serious steps to push forward with efforts to negotiate a deal that would see official diplomatic relations for the first time between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

News of a potential deal comes at a time of rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics in the middle east, including moves by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to officially recognize Israel in 2020, China’s assertiveness to expand its presence in the region and the reemergence of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad into the official circles of the Arab league.

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