PHOTO: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir


I spoke with Monocle 24’s The Daily on Friday night about Saudi Arabia’s next steps in the Syrian crisis, following Riyadh’s declaration that it is prepared to send ground troops into the country.

While Saudi Arabia said the soldiers would support the US-led coalition in operations against the Islamic State, I think there is a different political and military game being played.

Trying to counter the current regime-Russian-Iranian-Hezbollah offensives — and frustrated with Washington’s unwillingness or inability to deal with them — the Saudis are considering an increase in support to Syria’s rebels.

That escalation will probably occur as soon as the death of the “Geneva talks” process, upon which US Secretary of State John Kerry has pinned his hopes, is confirmed.

Listen from 3:22:

Saudi Arabia is almost as important a player as the Russians or the Iranians or the Americans, and possibly more….

The Saudis have held back in recent months because the Americans wanted this “Geneva peace process” — which isn’t going to happen — because they did want to directly confront Washington.

Now that those Geneva talks have collapsed, the Saudis are going to look for a freer hand to step up backing of the rebels.