The Saudi-US Relations Information Service (SUSRIS), a part of the National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR), offers up two interviews on US-Saudi relations. The first is by former US Ambassador to the Kingdom, Charles Freeman.

In this conversation, Freeman focuses on Iran, China, and the seemingly growing realization in the USG that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is central to US security. It also explores what sort of leverage Saudi Arabia might exert on China due to its high level of oil exports to China.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Iran and Israel
– “An Interesting Moment”

Editor’s Note:

“Something new” and “significant” is how Ambassador Charles Freeman, Jr., described some of the recent developments in the Middle East affecting the United States and its relationships in the region. In our exclusive interview with Freeman, a distinguished career diplomat who served in America’s Foreign Service during Desert Storm as U.S.Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and former President of the Middle East Policy Council, we asked about the critical issues including US-Saudi cooperation in dealing with the Iranian nuclear program, high level U.S. officials’ visits to the Kingdom, relations with China including questions about its position on UN sanctions, American credibility in the region and the fallout in the Middle East from American-Israeli discord over continuing construction of settlements in occupied territories and the peace process impasse.
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The second conversation is with Jon Alterman, of the Center for International & Strategic Studies (CSIS). The interview actually took place last June, but is still relevant. The focus is US-Saudi-Iranian relations.

Quiet in the Kingdom, Reacting to Turmoil in Iran

Editor’s Note:

As the post-presidential election strife and government crackdown in Iran continue through a second week we took a look at the reaction to and impact of the turmoil on Saudi and American interests in the Gulf. We turned to Dr. Jon Alterman, Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. for his perspectives. Here for your consideration is the SUSRIS exclusive interview conducted by phone with Dr. Alterman on June 23, 2009. We invite your attention to the comprehensive bank of links covering US-Saudi-Iranian issues that follows the interview.
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