It seemed at times more of a lovefest than a summit, with the happy couple waving away suggestions from friends that they might be moving a tad too quickly, overlooking each other’s flaws, or hurtling into a relationship whose first flush might not last.

Yet U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House welcome this week for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the modernizing reformer and ironfisted autocrat who runs Saudi Arabia – was of major geopolitical significance.

It was part of an audacious effort by Mr. Trump to recast American policy and reshuffle American alliances in the Middle East.

Why We Wrote This

Israel has long stood unchallenged as Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East. Donald Trump seems to be giving the top spot now to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, in a

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