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Arab States Fear Khashoggi Case Could Trigger Regional Instability

(Washington Post) Karen DeYoung and Souad Mekhennet - Nearly all governments in the Arab world are shocked at what few doubt was the officially sanctioned killing and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey. But what worries the Arabs most, regional officials and experts say, is what they see as the danger to their own stability and security should Saudi Arabia's status - and its close ties with the U.S. - be seriously undermined. If the administration decides to seriously step back from its alliance with Riyadh, "our security is at risk," a senior official from a Persian Gulf country said. "Iran might see another opportunity to destabilize." However they feel about the crown prince, said an official from another country in the region, under the current U.S. administration, Saudi Arabia is the "pillar" around which the Arab relationship with the U.S. is anchored. Anwar Gargash, the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, tweeted on Oct. 16, "From the perspective of the sons of the Arab gulf and the region, the Saudi presence is vital for stability and development in a troubled and difficult atmosphere. The passing crises won't change this reality." (Washington Post)
2018-10-25 00:00:00
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