Payne, Alexander Preston2017-10-122017-10-122017https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2287487 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of International Studies and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Winter 2017The U.S.-Saudi partnership has been foundational to America’s Middle Eastern policy for decades. Security, stability, and oil flows have enabled a positive, productive working relationship despite incredible cultural differences. However, a confluence of issues are promising to bring big changes. The rise of Iran, the Shi’a/Sunni split, and the expansion of American fracking is creating a gulf between the two states. The recent death of King Abdullah, who tenuously balanced the U.S. partnership with Saudi interests, has opened the door to King Salman and his young son Prince Mohammed to take Saudi Arabia in a new direction. This paper seeks to analyze their actions, and their plans, and what that might mean for U.S. interests in the Middle East.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USSaudi ArabiaMiddle EastKing SalmanForeign policyPrince MohammadThesis/Dissertation