King Saud Announces Plans to Renew American Access to Dhahran

King Saud arrived as Washington was reconsidering its role in the Middle East after the Suez crisis. In January 1957 Eisenhower had proposed American economic and military assistance to states resisting aggression associated with international communism. His administration feared that the loss of British and French influence would strengthen Soviet opportunities. Saudi negotiations took place within that unsettled regional balance. [1]

King Saud announced in Washington on 8 February 1957 that he intended to renew American access to Dhahran airfield for five years. [2]

American planners had conceived Dhahran as a wartime airfield on the route between Cairo and Karachi. The war ended before construction began in January 1946, and the resulting installation belonged to Saudi Arabia. American use therefore depended on negotiated permission. [3]

After King Saud’s meetings with Dwight D. Eisenhower, the two governments coupled the proposed renewal with American plans to provide military equipment, training, and services for Saudi defense. Ownership of the airfield remained in Saudi hands. [2] [3]

Related Diplomats

1. Abdullah Al-Khayyal [4] [5] [6]

Related Reading

• Saudi Arabia and the United States