沙特可能從美國大舉撤資 或引發鉅額資產拋售

US legislation that allows families of victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia threatens to deter Saudi investment in the US and risks triggering the sale of billions of dollars of assets, Gulf bankers say.

海灣銀行家們表示，美國允許9/11恐怖襲擊受害者家人起訴沙特政府的法律可能讓沙特人不敢在美國投資，並引發鉅額資產拋售。

The US Congress on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to override a presidential veto of legislation that waives claims of foreign immunity for terrorist attacks in the US.

美國國會週三以壓倒性多數的投票推翻了總統對一項法案的否決令——該法案使得外國政府對美國本土發生的恐怖襲擊事件不再享有主權豁免權。

Riyadh has not responded officially to the congressional vote. But Saudis have expressed concerns to bankers that their assets could eventually become the target of legal action.

沙特政府還沒有對此作出正式迴應。但沙特方面已經向銀行家們表示了擔憂，即他們的資產可能最終成爲法律訴訟的目標。

Bankers say they expect Saudi Arabia to act cautiously as they monitor any legal processes. But Saudi concerns are undermining the case for new investments and raising the prospect of liquidations, they added.

銀行家們表示，他們預計沙特將會謹慎迴應，關注任何法律進程。但他們補充稱，沙特人的擔憂讓他們沒有理由在美國進行新的投資，並提升了他們撤資的前景。

“The Saudis will certainly be more cautious, and the longer-term implications for Saudi assets in the US could be huge,” said a banker, who manages Saudi money.

一位管理沙特人資金的銀行家表示：“沙特人當然會更加謹慎，這對沙特人在美資產的較長期影響可能非常大。”

A fund manager in the Gulf said Saudi investors would already be planning to reduce exposure to the US and preparing to reduce US investments.

海灣的一位基金經理表示，沙特投資者已經在計劃減少對美國的敞口，並準備削減在美投資。

“They are worried about an asset freeze,” he said.

他說：“他們擔心資產遭到凍結。”

Bankers estimate that most of the Saudi government’s and the royal family’s assets are held in the US, placing hundreds of billions of dollars at risk of liquidation. The central bank holds an estimated $170bn in US Treasury bills alone, bankers say.

銀行家們估計，沙特政府和王室家族的大部分資產位於美國，這意味着數千億美元資產變現的風險。銀行家們表示，據估計沙特央行持有1700億美元美國國債。

“It is possible that every institution or person connected to the Saudi government or royal family would have to withdraw their money from all US-based banks,” said the banker. “If a US court orders seizures, it would apply across all US registered companies.”

這位銀行家表示：“與沙特政府或王室家族有關的每個機構或個人，可能將不得不把資金從美國境內的所有銀行撤出來。如果美國法庭下令扣押，那將適用於所有在美國註冊的公司。”

The 9/11 attacks were claimed by al-Qaeda and carried out mainly by Saudi nationals. There are lingering suspicions in the US that Saudi government officials gave assistance to the hijackers while they were in the country.

基地組織(al-Qaeda)宣稱對9/11恐怖襲擊事件負責，而襲擊者大多是沙特籍人士。美國一直有人懷疑，沙特政府官員對當時在美國的劫機者提供了援助。

Riyadh and Washington, who are traditional allies, have always denied any official Saudi involvement.

利雅得和華盛頓傳統上是盟友，它們始終否認沙特官方捲入的說法。

President Barack Obama warned on Wednesday that the legislation — which he vetoed before Congress overrode him — was a “mistake”. He said eliminating the notion of sovereign immunity could put American soldiers at risk, saying the US “could potentially start seeing ourselves subject to reciprocal loss”.

美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)週三警告稱，該法案是一個“錯誤”——他否決了法案，但國會現在推翻了他的否決。他說，消除外國政府主權豁免權的理念可能讓美國軍人處於危險，美國“可能開始認爲自己也會失去主權豁免權的保護”。