Germany rebukes own BND spy agency over Saudi criticism

In an usual move, the German government has publicly rebuked its own foreign intelligence agency BND after it said Saudi Arabia's foreign policy was becoming more "impulsive".

MENA

3 min read

The New Arab

04 December, 2015

Relations are tense between Saudi Arabia and Germany [Anadolu]

The government in Berlin has publicly criticised its own foreign spy agency after it voiced concerns about Saudi Arabia's foreign policy.

Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency said Riyadh was becoming impulsive in its foreign policy as powerful young Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman asserts himself.

The BND also said that with Saudi Arabia losing confidence in the United States as a guarantor of Middle East order, Riyadh appeared ready to take more risks in its regional competition with Iran.

Berlin reacted after officials in Riyadh complained about the assessment.

"The published assessment does not reflect the position of the German government," a spokesman for the German government said.

The BND's report looked at how Saudi foreign policy has changed since King Salman took power in January 2015.

Saudi Arabia was an important partner "in a crisis-ridden world" "especially on the way to peace in Syria", he said.

It also has a crucial role in finding a regional solution, because of the support Saudi gives to rebel group fighting the Islamic State group, the spokesman added.

The BND's report looked at how Saudi foreign policy has changed since King Salman took power in January 2015.

It focused particularly on its military intervention in Yemen and its support for rebels in Syria, as well as Saudi foreign policy in Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq.

"What was previously a cautious diplomatic stance of the elder leaders in the royal family is being replaced by an impulsive policy of intervention," the briefing said, adding that the Saudis were losing faith in the United States as a guarantor of regional peace.

The report was especially critical of defence minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and said it suspected him of holding ambitions of securing the royal succession.

Recently, the two countries have endured tense relations after Germany tightened restrictions on arms contracts and spoke out about human rights abuses in the kingdom.

In August, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir visited Berlin to discuss the crisis in Syria with his Germany counterpart.

Since King Salman succeeded to power in January, Saudi Arabia has orchestrated a military coalition to intervene in Yemen to limit Iranian influence, increased support for Syrian rebels and made big changes in the royal succession.

Riyadh has long viewed Iran as aggressive and expansionary and regarded its use of non-state proxies as aggravating sectarian tensions and destabilizing the region. But under Salman, it has moved more assertively to counter its regional foe.

Germany's BND pointed to efforts by the two rivals to shape events in Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq, with Saudi Arabia increasingly prepared to take military, political and financial risks to ensure it does not lose influence in the region.

"The thus far cautious diplomatic stance of the elder leaders in the royal family is being replaced by an impulsive interventionist policy," the BND said, adding the Saudis remain committed to the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran, a major ally of Assad, denies having expansionist aims and accuses Saudi Arabia of undermining regional stability through its backing of Syrian rebels and intervention in Yemen.

The BND issued the 1-1/2 page report, entitled "Saudi Arabia - Sunni regional power torn between foreign policy paradigm change and domestic policy consolidation", to some German media.

Saudi Arabia faces a budget deficit that economists estimate could total $120 billion or more this year. This has led the Finance Ministry to close its national accounts a month early to control spending.