沙特政府官員就美國對敘利亞血腥內戰的政策感到憤怒。
在埃及，沙特人支持軍方支持的政府。
在總統默罕默德·莫爾西在政變中被廢除後，美國就暫停了對埃及數億美元的援助。
但大多數沙特人都擔心勁敵伊朗的軍事力量。
在伊朗有爭議的核項目上，美國和伊朗的關係可能緩和。
柯利弗德·梅是保衛民主基金會主席。
“目前的跡象是，沙特人很憤怒很惱火，他們感到沮喪，我想如果真要說出個原因來，那是因為美國目前在中東沒有表現出領導權。”
美國沒有在對敘利亞叛軍提供武器上更積極，這一點令Riyadh不滿。
同時令沙特對美國產生抱怨的是，白宮決定採取協議去除敘利亞的化學武器，而不是對敘利亞總統巴沙爾·阿薩德發起巡航導彈打擊，阿薩德目前似乎有優勢。
“我看不到有什麼障礙來影響下屆選舉。”
Riyadh甚至拒絕了聯合國安理會的席位，稱安理會未能在解決中東危機上取得成功。
中東問題分析家Hany Al-Gamal說：
“安理會事實上想讓國際社會明白，像沙特這樣的富裕國家和地區重要大國，應該在敘利亞危機問題上有發言權，沒有人可以將自己的觀點施加給別人。”
美國國務卿約翰·克裡說，他明白沙特對華盛頓的一些決定失望，但他說盟國會協作一致。
“我相信我們在前進的路上會達成一致，我希望與沙特友邦和盟友更緊密地合作。”
Riyadh最擔心的是奧巴馬政府與伊朗更和睦關係的可能，此前有高度象徵性的信號，就是美國總統和伊朗新總統進行了通話。
柯利弗德·梅說：
“沙特在該地區依靠美國的領導權，他們認為伊朗的崛起為威嚇和霸權主義，或許會很快成為中東的核武國家。”
分析家稱，要知道沙特對華盛頓的憤怒是外交口角還是雙邊關係的重大分裂還為時過早。
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States are causing a severe strain on what has been a rock-solid relationship. Saudi officials are expressing anger and concern over America’s evolving policies in the Middle East.
Saudi government officials are fuming over U.S. policy regarding the bloody Syrian civil war.
In Egypt, the Saudis are supporting the military-backed government.
While the United States is suspending hundreds of millions of dollars in aid following the coup which ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
But mostly the Saudis are worried about the military strength of arch-rival Iran.
And a possible thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran over the country’s controversial nuclear program.
Clifford May is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies:
“The signs are that the Saudis are angry, that they are exasperated, that they are frustrated and I think if you had to come down to a one line reason why, it is because the U.S. is not showing leadership in the Middle East at this moment," said May.
Riyadh is unhappy the U.S. has not been more aggressive in arming the Syrian rebels.
And the Saudis complained about the White House decision to embrace an agreement to remove Syria’s chemical weapow - rather than launch a cruise missile strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who now appears to be in a stronger position.
“I don’t see any obstacles to being nominated to run in the next elections," said Assad.
Riyadh even rejected a seat on the U.N. Security Council, citing its lack of success in resolving conflicts in the Middle East.
Middle East analyst Hany Al-Gamal:
“It actually wants the international community to know that Saudi Arabia, as a well-off country and a significant regional power, should have a say on the issue of the Syria crisis, and no one should impose their own views on others," said Al-Gamal.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he understands the Saudis' disappointment with some of Washington’s decisions, but says the allies are working together.
“And I am convinced we are on the same page as we are proceeding forward, and I look forward to working very closely with our Saudi friends and allies," said Kerry.
Riyadh is most concerned about the Obama’s administration’s potential for warmer relations with Iran, following a highly symbolic phone call between the U.S. president and his new Iranian counterpart.
Again, Clifford May:
“The Saudis depend on U.S. leadership in that region and they see the alternative, frankly as the rise of Iran as a bully, a hegemon, eventually, maybe sooner rather than later, a nuclear-armed master of the Middle East," he said.
Analysts say it is too early to know whether Saudi Arabia’s anger with Washington is a diplomatic spat or a significant split in bilateral relations.
