In a diplomatic feat, Beijing played host to talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which were led by Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al Aiban, Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers and National Security Advisor in Saudi Arabia, and Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, for four days from March 6th to March 10th of 2023.
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The goal was to establish friendly relations between the two nations, and surprisingly, an announcement was made that a Saudi-Iranian agreement had been reached to resume diplomatic relations within two months.
What was even more surprising was that the agreement was brokered by China. A tripartite official statement was released, bringing together all three parties - Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China. This reflected China's keenness to make its presence felt in international relations post the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, China aims to consolidate the rules, principles, and foundations of its foreign policy, particularly concerning non-interference in other countries affairs and respect for their sovereignty.
Saudi diplomacy gained a significant strategic advantage by having China as a mediator in this tripartite agreement. China is not just a run-of-the-mill mediator but a major international power and a member of the UN Security Council. It also shares strong strategic relations with the other party, Iran, therefore having significant influence.
Iran has shown its support for the agreement through Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's announcement. A prominent security official, quoted by Reuters, explained that Shamkhani traveled to China as the supreme leader's representative, stating that "The establishment wanted to show that the top authority in Iran backed this decision."
China has a confirmed strategic interest in reducing tensions across the Gulf shores. This isn't just about China flexing its strategic muscles or filling the void left by the waning influence of the US. Rather, it's about China's ability to create new strategic alliances that serve its interests both in the present and future.
The Chinese imprint on the agreement went beyond just hosting the meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing, a move that caught many off guard. After all, Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a close ally of the US, and the region falls under American strategic influence.
China played a pivotal role in shaping the tripartite statement, which reflected the country's diplomatic finesse in facilitating dialogue between the parties involved. The statement was in line with the regional security and stability requirements advocated by Saudi Arabia and echoed by Iran. However, the fact that it was issued from Beijing carried more weight and a greater guarantee of strength. China was confident in Iran's commitment to the principles outlined in the statement and its ability to act as a partner and guarantor in such situations.
The statement laid out a timeline for implementing the agreed-upon terms, including a commitment to respecting the sovereignty of states and refraining from interfering in their internal affairs. It also called for a meeting between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran to activate the steps agreed upon, arrange the exchange of ambassadors, and explore ways to enhance bilateral relations.
The joint statement released by Saudi Arabia and Iran after their recent talks included an agreement to activate the General Agreement for Cooperation signed in 1998. This agreement covers various fields such as economy, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports, and youth. Additionally, the statement expressed gratitude to Iraq and Oman for hosting the talks between the two sides in 2021-2022.
The triple statement formula used in the agreement is different from the usual Western contexts. It carries a distinctly "Chinese" tone, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in solving problems and crises and committing to the principles of the UN, laws, and international norms. These are all fundamental features and phrases found in Chinese political literature.
China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, hailed the agreement as "a victory for dialogue, a victory for peace, offering major good news at a time of much turbulence in the world." China is keen to capitalize on this success by announcing its desire to play a constructive role in addressing hot global issues.
Wang Yi also emphasized that "As a good-faith and reliable mediator, China has faithfully fulfilled its duties as the host." He further pointed out that "The world is not just limited to the Ukraine issue."
In a bid to protect its growing interests in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Iran, China has brokered an agreement that seeks to mitigate the chronic tension between the two sides. This move by China has been met with speculation and doubt by observers who have been monitoring the strategic partnership relations between China and the Gulf region.
However, the agreement has defused the underlying crisis between the two sides and has created a better environment for Chinese projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as China's strategic ambition of ensuring energy resources, given that it obtains 40% of its oil needs from Middle Eastern suppliers. The agreement also underscores China's growing global influence, especially as it follows its proposed solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
China's active role in global governance and restructuring international institutions to align with its strategic interests is increasingly being acknowledged. China has also demonstrated its ability to find solutions to international crises and issues, an area where Western efforts have been absent, particularly concerning the Ukrainian crisis. With growing confidence in its ability to build the necessary balance in international relations, especially in Africa and the Middle East, China is fast becoming a balancing force to the US in addressing international crises.
American officials who claim that the recent agreement between Beijing and Riyadh does not signify a decline in American influence are mistaken. The reality is clear: the agreement reflects a decline in the American role, not just because of the growing partnership between China and Saudi Arabia, but also because each gain made by this partnership comes at the expense of the strong alliance between Riyadh and Washington. Although this alliance still exists, it is no longer as robust as it once was, and given the current circumstances, it is not expected to regain its former strength in the foreseeable future.
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