Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Saudi Arabia by the end of this year as the world’s top oil importer and the top oil exporter strengthen energy and strategic ties, while US.-Saudi relations are at a historically low level, well-informed sources told The Wall Street Journal.
China’s Xi is set to meet with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the visit which expected to take place on the second week of December 2022.
Officials are completing the details for a summit between Mr. Xi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that would underline Beijing’s growing influence in the Middle East, where the US long reigned supreme, and growing links between the oil-rich Saudis and Washington’s top global rivals, the WSJ reads.
Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia at a time of major turmoil in the oil market and geopolitics with the Russian invasion of Ukraine signals China’s intention to increase its influence in the Middle East, where the US was, until recently, the world superpower with the biggest influence.
Meanwhile, US-Saudi relations are at a low point, especially after the U.S. Administration slammed Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ group for what it described as a “short-sighted” and “misguided” decision to reduce their target oil production by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) as of this month.
MBS’ Lavish Spending
Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia is scheduled to include a lavish reception and an ostentatious ceremony. During his trip, Xi will also meet with leaders of the Gulf states and other Arab countries.
Critics have linked between Xi’s visit and Trump’s 2017 visit to the Kingdom, where he gained unlimited Saudi support.
US Administration to End Military Relations with Saudi Arabia
Counter Punch website recently revealed that US administration is considering a decision to end military ties with Saudi Arabia, including the direct assistance, the supporting role in its Yemen intervention, the soldiers on the ground, the US bases, and (as the Washington Post has just revealed) the retired senior US military officers who serve as well-paid advisers to the Saudi defense ministry.
The news website stated that the time has come to reset US military relations with Saudi Arabia.
Fact is, military ties are the only basis for relations; the Saudi regime has made clear that Russia and China are equally important partners, the paper reads.
The website pointed out that MBS recently asked the US for help when his intelligence reported an Iranian threat of attack.
Commenting on the move, one Congressional critic said: “what galls many of us in Congress is the ingratitude.”
“Galling? How about this for gall? But beyond the gall is our own gullibility in accepting Saudi excuses and lies.”
Adrift in Abu Dhabi
For its part, S&P Global Commodity Insights said that OPEC ministers refused to engage with the media on their much-debated cuts, shunning reporters and focusing their talking points on more investment in the oil and gas industry.
The US, which was represented at the forum by its international energy envoy Amos Hochstein, backed the need for more oil and gas investment even as wider rifts emerged.
Saudi Arabia has been on the offensive, trying to coalesce more support for the cuts, even as it bristled at actions by the US to release more crude from its strategic reserves.
While there was no public rapprochement between the US and Saudi Arabia in Abu Dhabi, the UAE seemed to chart a different course in maintaining its relationship with the world’s largest economy.
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Biden signed a pact which will mobilize $100 billion in financing, investment and other support to deploy globally 100 GW of clean energy by 2035. The two sides also stressed the need for maintaining stability in the energy markets.
The UAE’s decision to emphasize that relations were normal and continue energy co-operation comes at a time when Saudi Arabia and its allies face fresh threats in the region from possible attacks by Iran-backed proxies.
