Relations between China and Saudi Arabia have deepened following Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This diplomatic move began with a memorandum of understanding in September, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet decision at the end of March to become a dialogue partner. This cabinet decision followed Saudi Arabia’s resumption of relations with Iran through Chinese mediation.
Riyadh Joins China’s SCO, Ending Seven-Year Break with Iran
China, a member of the BRICS bloc, has recently strengthened its ties with Saudi Arabia. According to severalreports, Riyadh’s cabinet has approved its membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Chinese-founded alliance of Eurasian countries that is the largest political, economic, and military alliance in the world. Member countries include India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.In September 2022, Oilprice.com author Simon Watkins firstreportedthat Saudi Arabia had initiated a memorandum of understanding to join the SCO.
While Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet was finalizing its participation in the SCO, the countryrevealed plans to restructure relations with Iran and reduce daily oil production. Senior Saudi and Iranian diplomats recently met in China to restore relations between the two countries. Iran reportedly reopened its embassy and consulate and the two regions will revive trade deals. However, in areportpublished in the Washington Post,
Bill Burns, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, stressed that the U.S. felt “blindsided” by Riyadh’s move to cooperate with Iran.
On April 6, Saudi and Iranian officialsmet in Beijingto resume flights and visa issuance for citizens between the two countries after a seven-year hiatus. Iran is also an observer member of the SCO and is among nine dialogue partners, including Turkey and Qatar. The U.S. requested to become an observer member of the SCO in 2005 but was denied; the SCO is led by Secretary-General Chang Min and headquartered in Beijing. While relations between China and Saudi Arabia have deepened, at the same time Saudi Arabia has strengthened its ties with Russia.
Six days ago, Bitcoin.com News reported that Saudi leaders, along with members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), announced a cut in oil production. The Russian Federation also said it would join hands with Riyadh to participate in oil production cuts,and has been cooperating with Saudi Arabia in this way sincethe December 2016article The following year, Saudi Arabia’s leaders and ” Russia has also been cooperatingwith several African countries,and African relations with China and Russia relations with the U.S. could lead to acold war with the U.S.,it has been pointed out
What do you think Saudi Arabia joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner would mean for the region and the world? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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