saudi arabia , the next syria ?

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with the saudi's rapidly running out of money (it is claimed they need around $200 dollars a barrel oil prices to maintain current spending levels) what do the ph collective think is going to happen in saudi in around 3 years time when the money runs out ?

pre trump i thought the americans may have helped them out whether it be money or armed forces to contain civil uprising, now i am not so sure. there is a huge division across the country not widely reported in the msm, i can remember my father mentioning an incident many years ago where the king announced he was going to visit qatif province ,something to do with a new project , and the local rulers announced if he came he would be killed. in other places the king has been known to visit incognito at night to avoid the risk of assassination.

there is a huge divide between east and west along the usual sunni/shia lines but also a hatred of the royal family in many quarters that is all likely to explode when the money runs out.

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gruffalo said:

So have they always run a deficit, is this price required because of a drop in demand or have they recently increased spending for some reason?

I am trying to understand why they may run out of money that may cause the scenario described.

that was part of why i posted the topic . i previously read that price was required to maintain current spending ,but couldn't find out why . sure the oil price has dropped , but there must be more to the situation if such a high price is required..

i also wanted to gauge opinion on the possibility of civil war in the country in the near future. i am prone to taking things as read whereas many on here tend to have more considered opinions and better understanding of the situation, particularly those that work in the middle east.

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Digga said:

fblm said:

I read a very good book called inside the kingdom a few years ago, sounds like you would find it interesting.

FWIW, T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom is also compelling.

noted, thanks.

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gruffalo said:

On one hand a broken up Saudi could solve a great many of the issues in that region but on the other is it better the devil you know?

i would have agreed with the devil you know option pre gulf war . however that horse has long since bolted and i get the impression that saudi going pop is only a matter of time. it certainly won't be pretty if it does and i would hope the west will stay out of any conflict and let them sort it out themselves.