ABU DHABI Ñ The United States intends to withdraw some of its nearly
5,000 troops from Saudi Arabia.
U.S. officials said the issue has been raised at various levels with the
Saudi government as part of an effort to improve defense relations. They
said both countries are in the initial stage of a discussion regarding a
timetable and extent of the U.S. military withdrawal from the kingdom.
The issue has been raised during the current visit by U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield. Bloomfield is responsible for
political and military affairs at the State Department.
"He [Bloomfield] is here for consultations with the Saudi government to
review our presence here and to discuss what we need and what we don't
need," U.S.
ambassador Robert Jordan said on Wednesday. "We were going
to reduce our troops after the [1991] Gulf War anyway."
On Thursday, Bloomfield was quoted in the London-based Al Hayat daily as
denying that he had discussed a U.S. military withdrawal with his Saudi
hosts. Earlier, Bloomfield met Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled
Bin Sultan.
The officials acknowledged the talks in the wake of a proposal by Senate
Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin to end the use of the strategic
Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz air force base in Saudi Arabia. Levin said on
Tuesday that U.S. troops no longer appear welcome in the kingdom.
U.S. officials in both Washington and Riyad said the Bush administration
is discussing changes in the U.S.-Saudi security relationship. They said any
withdrawal of U.S. troops from the kingdom would be gradual and carried out
without publicity.
Saudi officials appeared uneasy over Levin's call. But they did not deny
that such talks were taking place or that Riyad had banned Washington from
using the Prince Sultan air base for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
"I have an unease about our presence in Saudi Arabia," Levin said on
Tuesday in a meeting with reporters. "I think we may be able to find a place
where we are much more welcomed openly."
Congressional staffers said Levin's call for a reduction of troops from
Saudi Arabia came after a series of classified intelligence briefings in
Congress that warned of rising opposition to the U.S. military presence in
the kingdom. U.S. officials have told Congress that the future use of the
Prince Sultan Air Base is in jeopardy after more than a decade of an
American military presence in the kingdom.
"The situation at the Saudi base seems very unclear," Levin said. "We
may need to move that base. I do think there is a real problem when we are
told by a country, presumably an ally, doesn't want us to
be seen."
U.S. officials have been examining other Gulf Cooperation Council states
for the redeployment of 4,600 American troops in Saudi Arabia. They include
Bahrain and Oman, regarded as more liberal countries than Saudi Arabia.
In Washington, Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz
said Levin should never have raised the issue. Bandar, regarded as an
influential figure with the administration, expressed surprise over Levin's
call.
In Riyad, Saudi officials reassured a visiting U.S. business delegation
that Riyad remains committed to an alliance with Washington. They dismissed
the need for a reassessment of the U.S.-Saudi relationship in the wake of
the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington, carried out mainly
by Saudi nationals.
"We in the kingdom are certain that any questioning of the depth and
strength of our relationship is short-lived because this friendship is based
on common interests and shared goals," Saudi Economy Minister Ibrahim Al
Assaf said.
