The Saudi prince came into the world’s attention again when journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered. Due to this the relations between America and Saudi Arabia went into the abyss. The Prince, who became Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, reduced oil production even after Biden’s threat, while not bowing to US pressure to isolate Russia. The Saudi Prince is now taking the Chinese President’s visit as an opportunity. Trying to make himself the Khalifa of Gulf countries. This is the reason why the Prince has played a big bet by inviting the leaders of Gulf countries and North African countries for the Sino-Arab Summit.
Oil is like blood for Saudi Arabia
Ayham Kamel, head of the Middle East and North Africa group at the Eurasia Group, said: “Saudi Arabia is working on a strategic calculus that must include China, which has now become an integral economic partner.” Analysts say that the US will still remain the biggest security ally for the Gulf countries. Even after this, Saudi Arabia is now making such a foreign policy that it can improve its national economy. That too when the world is moving away from hydrocarbons like oil which is like blood for Saudi Arabia.
Kamel said, ‘There is a danger that increasing relations with China may have the opposite effect and this may increase the gap between the relations between America and Saudi Arabia. Not taking it forward. Xi Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when tensions in US-Saudi relations, as well as the imposition of limits on Russian oil by Western countries, have caused uncertainty in global energy markets. At the same time, America is afraid that China is increasing its influence in the Gulf countries full of oil and gas.
Saudi Arabia will be included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization!
On the other hand, some other analysts say that Xi Jinping is not just visiting Saudi Arabia. Their aim is to expand the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. China is trying to develop SCO as a strong alliance against NATO. This is the reason why China can also include Saudi Arabia in SCO. China is investing extensively in Saudi Arabia’s energy market. Saudi Arabia has also expressed its desire to become an observer member of the SCO. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s staunch opponent Iran is on the way to becoming a full member of SCO. Saudi Arabia is currently a dialogue partner of the SCO. Apart from Saudi, Egypt and Qatar are also dialogue partners of SCO. Countries like China, Iran, Russia want to use SCO as a platform to counter Western influence.