Saudi Businessman Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Musai’d Al Saud: The U.S. Is In No Position To Lecture Saudi Arabia About Human Rights; 'You Need Us More Than We Need You'

Saudi Businessman Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Musai'd Al Saud said that the U.S. is in no position to lecture Saudi Arabia about human rights. "You need us more than we need you," he added in an interview that aired on Channel 1 (Saudi Arabia) on March 10, 2021. Prince Abdul Rahman referred to a tweet by the U.S. administration that called for a reassessment of its relations with Saudi Arabia in keeping with American values. He said that international relations are not based on values, but on interests. He added that Saudi Arabia is not a banana republic. The Saudi prince said that "a little bit of modesty" would not hurt the United States. The prince, who is the former president of Al-Hilal football club, emphasized that he was presenting his personal views and not those of the royal family.

Abdul Rahman Bin Musai'd Al Saud: "I have noticed a tweet by the U.S. administration, which reiterated their position: We will reassess Saudi-American relations in keeping with our values.

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"I'm surprised that the government of a country the size of the U.S. would say such a thing."

Interviewer: "Why should we be surprised?"

Al Saud: "First of all, relations between countries are based on interests, not values."

Interviewer: "True."

Al Saud: "This is the ABC [of international relations]. In addition, why are you imposing your values on me? Who says I must share your values? This is controversial even in..."

Interviewer: "Even in America."

Al Saud: "Some of the values that Democrats uphold are not upheld by Republicans. On what grounds are you trying to impose your values on me? Your values include, for example, same-sex marriage. Why are you imposing on me values that are rejected by my society, religion, and traditions? They allow for abortions. This is one of their values. According to their values, when a girl reaches a certain age, she can bring her boyfriend home, and have a relationship with him without getting married. So this whole thing about values doesn't make sense. 

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"We are not a banana republic. We are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our country is important. It is the country of the Two Holy Mosques. 1.8 billion Muslims pray towards our country five times a day. This country carries significant economic weight and it influences the region. The world cannot do without Saudi moderation. Because of its economy, its moderation, and its cooperation in the war on terror... The truth is that you need us more than we need you. At least, there should be reciprocity. For example, their values allow for people to curse God, or the Prophet Muhammad. They consider this to be freedom of speech. These are not my values. When people curse the head of state or fail to show him the respect he deserves, they consider it to be freedom of speech... These are not my values. 

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"With all due respect, the Americans are in no position to lecture us about human rights. I'll tell you why. What did America do to the Indians? What did it do in the Korean War? What did it do in Vietnam? It is the only country that dropped a nuclear bomb, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing 140,000 people in five minutes. 

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"What did they do in Guantanamo and in Abu Ghraib?"

Interviewer: "In Iraq, yes."

Al Saud: "What have they done inside America, where there are constant incidents of police [brutality] against African Americans? They are in no position to lecture us about human rights. 

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"Why did the U.S. refuse to join the ICC? Out of fear that U.S. civilians or soldiers would be charged with war crimes. So do me a favor and do not talk to us about human rights. We do not claim to maintain a Scandinavian approach to human rights, but still, a little bit of modesty wouldn't hurt you."