The talks that began in Riyadh between the US and Russia on Tuesday, February 18, were a perfect coup for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The prince, also known by his nickname "MBS," has made use of his good relations with Moscow to serve Donald Trump's ambitions. A leader among Arab and Muslim countries, MBS might see his image enshrined as that of a "peacemaker" if the American president were to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Saudi Arabia.

Will MBS be able to capitalize on his favor to Trump and their close relationship, using these ties to win him over to his way of seeing the Middle East, particularly on the Palestinian question? A meeting between the Russian and American presidents "may offer MBS leverage over Donald Trump," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East fellow at the Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston, Texas. "The energy issue, Saudi investments in the US and the kingdom's ties with members of the Trump family are other avenues for influence."

Riyadh had warmly hailed Trump's return to the White House. MBS was even the first foreign leader to call the new American president, on January 23, bearing gifts of good news with the announcement of $600 billion in Saudi investment in the US. Trump, who has always shown his affection for the young ruler, and, above all, for the kingdom's abundant natural resources, had urged him to raise the total to $1,000 billion, true to his usual transactional approach.

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