Those who expected the summit between U.S. President Obama and Saudi King Abdullah to produce a “reset” button after unusually strained relations between the two nations were bound to be disappointed. While the Obama administration reassured its Saudi hosts that the differences between the two sides were “tactical,” a careful reading of the assertive, and risky policies that Saudi Arabia has adopted in places as varied as Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran—in sharp difference with Obama administration’s extremely cautious, if not ambiguous policies in the region—reveals that the difference is perhaps deeper, more philosophical, and unlikely to be bridged in a two-hour meeting or perhaps even over the next two years. Developments in Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Iraq since the March meeting have only underlined the growing gulf between the two strategic allies.

Those who expected the summit between US President Obama and Saudi King Abdullah to produce a “reset” button after unusually strained relations between the two nations were bound to be disappointed.

Oil competition, dependence on immigrants, high unemployment put Saudi Arabia at risk.