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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud said that Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration agree on "over 90% of the U.S.-Saudi interests." He made these remarks in an interview with Channel 1 (Saudi Arabia) which aired on April 27, 2021. Bin Salman said that American influence on the world economy has decreased in the past decades, and that "the world has begun to regain its balance." He added that Saudi Arabia hopes to maintain its strategic ties with its partners in the region, to strengthen its alliances with its partners throughout the world, and to strike up new partnerships. Bin Salman said that today, China, Russia, and India consider Saudi Arabia to be their strategic partner. He added that Saudi Arabia will never accept any pressure or interference in its internal affairs.
Interviewer: "With regard to Saudi Arabia and America... After the new American administration entered the White House, are there differences between the two allies? Has the White house turned its back on Riyadh?"
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud: "No two countries are in 100% agreement. Even with the Gulf countries and countries that are closest to us, there is always a margin of disagreement. This margin of disagreement is very natural. Even in the same house, brothers do not agree on 100% of the things. With any U.S. administration, the margin of disagreement may increase or decrease, but we agree with the Biden administration on over 90% of the U.S.-Saud interests.
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"In the 1950's, the U.S. constituted 50% of the world's economy. Today, the American economy constitutes 20% of the world's economy. The world has begun to regain its balance following the two world wars.
"We hope to maintain our strategic alliance with our partners in the region, who are our most important partners – the Gulf countries, the Arab countries, and the countries of the Middle East. We also wish to strengthen our alliances with our partners throughout the world – the U.S., Britain, France, Europe, and other countries.
"In addition, we wish to strike new partnerships with everybody – Russia, India, China, Latin America, Africa, and elsewhere, in a way that serves the interests of Saudi Arabia, without harming any other country in the world. Today, China has announced the Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner. India and Russia have also announced that Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner. Saudi Arabian continues to be a strategic partner of the United States. We strengthen our interests with everybody, in a way that serves us, them, and international interests.
"Ultimately, each country has the right to make its choices. If we can work with them in a way that benefits everybody, so be it, and if not, there are many alternatives in the world.
Interviewer: "With regard to the 10% – are these merely differences of opinion, or is there American pressure on Saudi Arabia?"
Al Saud: "Saudi Arabia will never accept any pressure or interference in its internal affairs. The U.N. Charter explicitly mentions the sovereignty of countries, and their complete independence. The problem that caused the two world wars was that countries interfered in the affairs of other countries. The U.N. Charter came to deal with a prolonged problem, from the age of colonialism, and throughout the two world wars. This problem was resolved by the U.N. Charter. One of the most important pillars of this charter is the sovereignty of countries. When a country interferes in the internal affairs of another country, it defies the charter that protected the world's peace, security, and stability, following World War II. The world has flourished in the past 50-60 years because of this charter. Undermining this charter is unacceptable."
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