The United States Institute of Peace said in a new report that even as China’s ties with Saudi Arabia and the region deepen, Washington remains an indispensable partner despite perceptions of retrenchment.
The United States has long been Saudi Arabia’s key security and intelligence partner, the report reads.
In addition to economic benefits, some of the MENA countries hope a closer relationship with China, a multipolar world and great power competition will reduce U.S. pressure on them to improve their record on human rights and inclusive governance and keep the emphasis on other interests, like security.
In the Middle East, it is the United States leaving the space, not China or Russia winning it, the report said.
These dynamics predate recent tensions in the Saudi-US relations.
Royal Reckless
Other media sources said that MBS took advantage of the oil crisis caused by Ukraine invasion to pressure the US President Joe Biden.
The Saudi authorities earlier sought Washington’s help to confront the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. But Biden decided to stop supporting the Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen.
According to reports, MBS is the responsible for the straining of relations between the long-time allies.
MBS still needs US protection
In 2022, Saudi Arabia has been flirting with Russia and China economically, but its dependence on the US for military protection is not going to end any time soon, Middle East Eye said.
The recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Riyadh is believed to be the culmination of new strategic alliances initiated by the Saudi Crown Prince.
While economic relations between the two countries have been flourishing for several years, the crown prince believes that it is time to engage with China at the highest political level.
It is true that in 2022 US-Saudi relations were not at their best. Riyadh saw Washington as withdrawing from the region with no future plans to boost its shrinking influence. It has recently failed to protect Saudi oil fields but Washington continues to expect its partners in the region to fulfil its wishes.
He can continue to cosy up to China economically but he must know when he crosses US red lines. Any Saudi-Russian alliance would be very dangerous for Riyadh for obvious reasons.
MBS can be as assertive as he wants and as much as his propaganda machine allows him to do so. But to think that, in the short term, he can replace the US with China is not only unrealistic but also foolish.
He will have to accept that, as long as Saudi’s military capabilities are not only weak but also dependent on the US, China’s involvement with Arabia will have to remain economic and technological.
