US-Saudi defence pact tied to Israel deal

News Snapshot:

Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) in 2022. — AFP WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend the kingdom in return for opening ties with Israel and will not hold up a deal even if Israel does not offer major concessions to Palestinians in their bid for statehood, three regional sources familiar with the talks said. A pact might fall short of the cast-iron, NATO-style defence guarantees the kingdom initially sought when the issue was first discussed between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Joe Biden during...