But perhaps the greatest risk would materialize if this deal does go through along the parameters sought by Saudi Arabia. It will be difficult to rein in a triumphant and capricious Mohammed bin Salman from taking advantage of the U.S. security guarantees and arms supply to act recklessly against his foes, just as he has done in Yemen.
The U.S. would also assume an open-ended commitment to defend Saudi Arabia which it would have to take seriously while already thinly spread between Taiwan and Ukraine. It would have to provide sensitive nuclear and military technology to an unstable political regime, with dubious nuclear track record that also faces domestic terrorism and foreign military threats.
