US mulls twin defence pacts to reach Israel-Saudi normalisation: report

Washington is considering twin defence treaties with Saudi Arabia and Israel as part of an effort to get both states to normalise relations, according to US media reports this week.

Citing diplomatic sources, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Biden's administration was mulling a treaty so comprehensive that it would require Congressional approval.

US and Israeli officials plan to treat the defence deals as a single package to maximise their chances of getting a green light from Congress, as many US Senators would be reluctant to commit to defending Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the report said.

They would, however, be more hesitant to reject a comprehensive deal that could potentially harm Israel, according to the sources cited in the report.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told NBC News that Saudi Arabia was ready to normalise ties with Israel in exchange for a US defence pact and help to develop its own civilian nuclear program.

A possible deal is expected to be put through early next year before the presidential election campaign makes it difficult to get 67 votes in the Senate, the report added.

Washington also seeks to stimulate collaboration between its allies in the Middle East, in particular to counterbalance China's growing influence in the region, the report said.

Reports of a Saudi defence pact were first picked up by The New York Times on Tuesday.

Citing American sources, the US daily said that Washington was discussing the terms of a mutual defence treaty with Riyadh that would resemble military pacts with Japan and South Korea.

In comments to Fox News, the Saudi crown prince said that a normalisation deal with Israel was "getting closer".

"Every day we get closer" to reaching an agreement, the 38-year-old heir to the Saudi throne said in an interview that aired Wednesday. 

"It seems it's for the first time a real one, serious. We’re gonna see how it goes," MBS said, adding that a deal with Israel would be "the biggest historical deal since the Cold War".