Saudisk miljardär: Trump en skam för Amerika

Bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America began in 1933 when full diplomatic relations were established. Despite the differences between the two countries—an ultraconservative Islamic absolute monarchy, and a secular, democratic republic—the two countries have been allies. In recent years, the two countries have occasionally been described as having a Special Relationship with one another. U.S. presidents, George W. Bush and current president, Barack Obama have strong and close relations with senior members of the Saudi Royal Family. Since World War II, the two countries have been allied in opposition to Communism, in support of stable oil prices, stability in the oil fields and oil shipping of the Persian Gulf, and stability in the economies of Western countries where Saudi's have invested. In particular the two countries were allies against the Soviets in the Afghanistan and in the expulsion of Iraq from Kuwait in 1991. The two countries have been in opposition over the state of Israel, the embargo of US and its allies by Saudi Arabia and other Middle East oil exporters during the 1973 oil crisis which raised oil prices considerably, the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US which Saudi Arabia opposed, aspects of the "War on Terror", and what many in the US see as pernicious influence of Saudi Arabia after the September 11 attacks. Opinion polls of Saudis by Zogby International (2002) and BBC (between October 2005 and January 2006) found 51% of Saudis had hostile feelings towards the American people in 2002; in 2005/2006 Arabian public opinion was sharply divided with 38% viewing U.S. influence positively and 38% viewing U.S. influence negatively. As of 2012, Saudi Arabian students form the 4th largest group of international students studying in the United States, representing 3.5% of all foreigners pursuing higher education in America. A December 2013 poll found 57% of Americans polled had an unfavorable view of Saudi Arabia and 27% favorable, the least favorable of 12 countries the poll inquired about.