Recent U.S. reports indicate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump to take “strong steps” regarding Sudan, including designating RSF as a terrorist organization and imposing secondary sanctions on the UAE for supporting the militia, according to PBS and Responsible Statecraft.
The Saudi move followed Prince Mohammed’s Washington visit last week, which primarily focused on investment and arms deals. Sudan emerged as a critical security issue for the Kingdom, concerned about the collapse of Sudan and its impact on Red Sea security and regional stability. Riyadh increasingly views a “centralized force” led by the Sudanese army as the sole guarantor against fragmentation and chaos spreading across its maritime borders.
This comes after RSF captured Al-Fashir in Darfur following an 18-month siege, accompanied by UN reports of mass killings, rape, and ethnically motivated atrocities. The violations sparked global outrage and prompted Washington to reassess regional actors’ roles, particularly repeated UAE arms supply accusations, which Abu Dhabi denies.
Saudi actions coincided with signs of U.S. impatience with ongoing external support to RSF. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged “cutting off weapons and support” to the RSF, while some Democratic legislators attempted, though unsuccessfully, to pass a bill suspending UAE arms sales until the support ceased.
Observers note that Saudi Arabia’s assertive role marks a real shift in Gulf power dynamics regarding the Sudan conflict, widening the gap with Abu Dhabi and positioning Washington as a contested arena for influence over the war’s outcome.
