What's Suwalki gap? Europe's 'achilles heel' that it fears could be Putin's target

United States President Donald Trump’s decision to hold back from joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis has created a fresh strain between Washington and Riyadh, adding another complication to an already uneasy relationship.Saudi Arabia has asked the US to carry out repeated air strikes against the Houthis, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Washington has so far declined, leaving Riyadh to confront an expanding threat largely on its own.The hesitation is particularly significant for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has spent years relying on the US as Saudi Arabia’s main security partner while also trying to position the kingdom as a major global centre for business, trade and tourism.Saudi Arabia wants stronger US backingThe Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi targets after declaring a blockade of the kingdom’s ports in July.