Saudi Arabia - United States Relations - Robert Jordan

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Interview
August 28, 2006

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was elevated to the throne on August 1, 2005 (Photo: SaudiEmbassy.net)

�Right Man, Right Place, Right Time�:
King Abdullah�s First Year
A Conversation with Robert Jordan

Editor's Note

This month marks the first anniversary of the reign of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. Abdullah, the fifth son of Saudi Arabia�s founder King Abdulaziz, has led the government as Crown Prince since January 1996 after King Fahd suffered a stroke.

To provide perspective on King Abdullah�s first year on the throne SUSRIS talked with Ambassador Robert Jordan who served as America�s top diplomat in the Kingdom from 2001 to 2003. He shared his assessment of the issues facing the Saudis and insights on King Abdullah as well as a headline he would choose, �Abdullah consolidates power, increases effectiveness.�

Ambassador Jordan returned to the private sector in 2003. He told SUSRIS he continues to work on projects in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and that he is committed to better understanding between Americans and Saudis and US-Saudi business ties, adding, �I can think of nothing I would rather do for the rest of my career than to work in these areas.�

SUSRIS thanks Ambassador Jordan for taking time to share his views on King Abdullah and US-Saudi relations. He was interviewed by phone from his Dallas office on August 14, 2006.

�Right Man, Right Place, Right Time�: King Abdullah�s First Year
A Conversation with Robert Jordan

SUSRIS: What are your thoughts as you consider King Abdullah�s first year?

Ambassador Robert Jordan: As Regent for ten years under King Fahd he was able to advocate reforms, but sometimes the implementation fell short of the aspirations. Now that he has the full power of the monarchy he is better able to insist that these reforms go forward. The fact that Saudi Arabia completed the process to join the WTO is significant. It allows the Kingdom, under the impetus of the WTO accession, to move forward with economic reforms, which in turn will spur social and political reforms.

King Abdullah is an excellent politician who pays careful attention to his people. His piety and his integrity are so well respected by the people that he enjoys tremendous personal popularity. That personal popularity will allow him to move forward in ways that someone less popular simply couldn�t.

We are seeing the use of Saudi Arabia�s petro-dollars to expand infrastructure at a time when it is much needed. They are building railroads. They are building a new economic city on the west coast. They are encouraging foreign investment. They have announced about $600 billion in foreign investment opportunities.

That all suggests Saudi Arabia really does intend to be the center of the Gulf, and one of the major economic forces in the world. It is a credit to King Abdullah who has surrounded himself with wise advisors. Although there are still those who don�t always agree with him, he operates to the best he can by consensus, but when a decision has to be made he seems willing to make it and move forward.

SUSRIS: What are the effects of changes at the top on US-Saudi relations.

Jordan: I don�t think it will change very much. King Abdullah, as Crown Prince, developed a very close personal relationship with President Bush. They have met in Crawford twice. They have met in Sharm el Sheik. They occasionally speak on the phone. When I was Ambassador I carried messages back and forth between them with some regularity and I am sure that is continuing.

When President Bush�s term is up his successor will certainly have the need to develop a similar relationship to the extent that is possible. The Foreign Minister, Prince Saud has been a very steady hand for decades in maintaining and managing the relationship as well. He worked closely with Secretaries of State in past Administrations, with Secretary Powell and now with Secretary Rice in generally a positive way. Those personal relationships are important. President George W. Bush welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to his ranch Monday, April 25, 2005, in Crawford, Texas. The President told the media on hand he looked forward to "talking with him about a variety of subjects." White House photo by David Bohrer

Much of the relationship comes down to policy. I think the Saudis will never abandon their feeling for the Palestinian people, and now their feeling for the Lebanese people as well. There will continue to be areas of disagreement and friction along those lines.

Our joint efforts in countering terrorism have been increasingly effective. At the sub cabinet level there are a number of officials on both side that have developed very close working relationships that have really helped on the war on terrorism.

SUSRIS: What are the issues King Abdullah faces?

Jordan: Education and the bulging youth population are obviously major issues. It will be critically important to the stability of Saudi society to training the youngsters of Saudi Arabia for productive lives in which they can acquire jobs, get married, raise a family, and have a house. Finding areas to provide employment is not all that easy in an economy that is so heavily based on the oil and gas industry. It does not typically employ large numbers of people, so they need to broaden their economy. Saudi Arabia also needs to develop trading opportunities, retailing, distribution -- I believe they intend to do that.

An ongoing challenge is for Saudi Arabia to deal with the ideologically extreme fringe elements. I know they have been taking on this problem, firing or retraining a number of imams in the mosques and certain teachers in the schools, as well as rewriting textbooks. Saudi officials realize they have quite a way to go in those areas. In that regard we should remember it is not always easy for a King to simply snap his fingers and turn everything on a dime. When you are trying to move a society it�s like turning an aircraft carrier. It doesn�t happen over night.

SUSRIS: What should Americans draw from King Abdullah�s ground breaking visits to places like China, India and, most recently, Turkey?

Jordan: They should first conclude that he is a very savvy guy. He understands the national interests of Saudi Arabia and realizes that Saudi Arabia cannot simply be a one trick pony -- it cannot simply be tied to one international relationship. They have, to some degree, more leverage than they have had in the past due to their natural resources. Saudi Arabia needs technology from a number of sources, and King Abdullah has been innovative in reaching out to countries that have not had much of a relationship with Saudi Arabia in the past.

This doesn�t mean that Saudi Arabia is turning away from the United States but simply broadening its circle of relationships. It does give them an added degree of independence. However, as I said earlier I think if there were a major national security threat to Saudi Arabia the United States is really the only country that can step in and save them. That is going to count for a lot down the line.

SUSRIS: The transition from King Fahd to King Abdullah also leads to speculation about the succession question for the future. There is often discussion about generational changes in the monarchy that has seen the sons of Saudi Arabia�s founding ruler, Ibn Saud, on the throne for over 50 years. What are your thoughts on the succession process in the future?

Jordan: That�s a favorite parlor game in Saudi Arabia among both Saudis and expats. I would say that the smoothness of this transition is to some degree also to the credit of Crown Prince Sultan. He has really acquitted himself well in his allegiance to the King and his agreement to pursue some of the policies of reform that perhaps people weren�t so sure of in the past.

My guess is that King Abdullah will have created so much momentum by the end of his reign -- we all hope it is a long reign -- that it would be very difficult for anyone immediately succeeding him to undo any of that. I doubt that Crown Prince Sultan, if he becomes king, would want to do so in any event. Beyond that it is difficult to say what might happen. One thing that is clear is there is no shortage of strong leadership talent in the Royal Family, whether its continues to be some of the other sons of Ibn Saud or some of his grandsons.

My personal contact and association with so many of them has led me to believe they will find the wisest, and most deserving to serve down the line. I do hope that they will find ways for some of the members who might be considered, to participate in government if they are not already in there, in ways where they can gain experience.

All of the top members of the Royal Family right now have had a great deal of experience in government because they started when they were in their twenties or thirties. That has not always been the case with some of the next generation. Someday they will be called upon and it will be helpful for them to get some indoctrination into positions of leadership and responsibility before then.

SUSRIS: Can you share any personal insights into King Abdullah?

Jordan: I spent about an hour with him when I paid my farewell call on him as Ambassador. We had a very warm conversation. We left holding hands as you often do with good friends in the Arab world. He hugged and kissed me and asked me to promise I would come back to see him at least three times each year. I am a bit behind on that commitment and I hope to make it up both to him and to myself because I really enjoy spending time with him.

A second anecdote would be about a visit to see Crown Prince Abdullah with Assistant Secretary of State Bill Burns at his farm. It�s a beautiful place. We walked to the entrance of a very large tent, and out shot this little round ball. It turned out it was a bocce ball, and Crown Prince Abdullah was engaged in a very intense bocce ball game with his nephews.

He is an avid player and carries his own bocce balls in a green felt case. That�s something I imagine a lot of people don�t know about him but he�s got a very lively interest in bocce ball. He watches many things on television. He is fully engaged and lives life in a very interesting and committed way. That�s one of the things I�ll always remember about him. He had such a great smile on his face when he was able to knock the bocce ball of his opponent away and win the match.

SUSRIS: One can only imagine how he acquired that pastime.

Jordan: But he�s the right man, in the right place at the right time, is the way I would sum it up.

SUSRIS: Thank you, Ambassador Jordan, for sharing your insight into King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

About Ambassador Jordan:
Robert Jordan was selected by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia at the most critical point in the history of the relationship between our two countries. After Senate confirmation, he served as ambassador from October 2001 through October 2003.
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