The talk of normalization between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel has come up again in full force after a noteworthy statement from President Joe Biden.
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Biden hinted that there's still a long road ahead for Israel and Saudi Arabia to reach a deal on normalizing relations, saying, "We're a long way from there. We've got a lot to talk about." The weight of the statement increased following media reports about the intense mediation and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the president's administration to make this happen.
The American President added in his statement: "Quite frankly, I don't think they [Saudis] have much of a problem with Israel. Whether or not we would provide a means by which [Saudi Arabia] could have civilian nuclear power or be a guarantor of their security, that's, I think, a little way off."
The fact is that this shouldn't catch the expert observers off guard, either due to their knowledge of the Saudi stance on the matter or based on previous statements from the US, like the one from the former American ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides.
Nides said, "In order to investigate the potential for a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, Biden gave his team the go-ahead. Although I'm unsure of the team's final destination, Biden has already made up his mind and intends to follow through. When will that take place? It is a complicated situation, so I'm not sure. The Abraham Accords Agreement has been remarkably successful, but it is very difficult to implement, and if it follows through, the region will look drastically different."
Delving into the subject of Saudi Arabia and Israel's official diplomatic relations (normalization) demands a deep grasp of the Kingdom's situation and overall strategic considerations when it comes to this sensitive issue. Saudi Arabia's perspective stands apart from its Arab and Islamic fellows; it holds a one-of-a-kind religious status and position as the spiritual and religious hub for almost two billion Muslims.
This aspect needs to be thoroughly taken into account, along with its possible implications and repercussions, especially considering that there are those who might exploit any matter and use it to smear the kingdom.
One of these inherently touchy subjects is the matter of relations with Israel, which comes with strong emotions, historical baggage, and political manipulation by various parties, including states and organizations that leverage this issue to further their own interests and agendas.
The current Saudi leadership has a completely different strategic vision for the present and the future. They have ambitious plans to elevate and put the country in the rightful place it deserves on the 21st-century world stage.
Therefore, there are hardly any holds barred when it comes to discussing any idea or proposal. This explains the concrete shift in the Saudi perspective towards Israel recently. It's worth mentioning that Israeli aircraft have been given the green light to fly in Saudi airspace, which marks a pivotal step considering the complexity and interconnected considerations surrounding Riyadh's stance on this front.
Furthermore, if we throw in the famous statement made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2022, when he said that the kingdom doesn't view Israel as an enemy, we can grasp the extent of the change in the Saudi strategic outlook and position overall.
The normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations is a key part of the calculations of the Biden administration, driven by its determination to reshuffle the deck in the Middle East region. However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a different vision based on its interests as an active regional player.
Hence, its position on normalization depends on ensuring the fulfillment of this geopolitical vision, which doesn't tie Saudi Arabia to any alliances or blocs and doesn't restrict its flexibility to establish partnership relations with all influential international forces in a world system undergoing transformations amidst the interactions in the Ukraine conflict.
Moreover, it's worth mentioning that the most crucial strategic needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the upcoming phase revolve around strengthening security and stability and ensuring a regional environment that allows the continued pursuit of the Vision 2030 goals.
All of this practically implies that the ball is in Washington's court, which seems to have yet to fully grasp the extent of the changes that have taken place in the dynamics of the game with its Saudi ally, calling for a different approach to these shifts.
The evidence suggests that Saudi diplomacy is making strides with purposeful and self-assured steps in all areas. Just a little over two years ago, very few optimists anticipated such a positive breakthrough happening in Saudi-Iranian relations.
This breakthrough carries great weight, considering the extent of the harm caused to Saudi Arabia by Iran's actions and regional stances in recent times, particularly with regard to its interventions in Yemen, which directly threatened the national security of the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia demonstrates a high level of realism in dealing with any other issue, including normalizing relations with Israel. Riyadh has publicly stated conditions for everyone, and there are likely other undisclosed conditions tied to Saudi Arabia's strategic interests and the management of its relations with the US.
Washington has been directly involved in mediating between its two allies, Saudi Arabia and Israel, to get them on the path of bilateral diplomatic normalization.
Experts might agree that normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel will create a certain level of regional headache for Riyadh. Addressing the reasons behind this headache may not be a piece of cake, as they are likely to be mostly unjustifiable and illogical but linked to profiteers exploiting the Palestinian issue and the suffering of the Palestinian people.
This is particularly evident amid the escalating tensions with the Palestinian, making it extremely challenging for any Arab or Islamic state, let alone Saudi Arabia, described as a leading state in the Islamic world, to take a publicly declared step towards normalization with Israel.
Moreover, extremist and terrorist organizations use such issues as fodder to fuel their propaganda and manipulate the emotions of innocent Muslims across the broader Islamic world, both in the Middle East and beyond.
In my view, I believe that Saudi Arabia is proceeding with deliberate and calculated steps in various regional matters, and some are carefully thought out, as needed. It's undeniable that some are gunning for Saudi Arabia, at least in the context of the well-known traditional competition for leadership in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
As a result, issues like normalizing relations with Israel are progressing slowly and gradually. However, gaining strategic incentives could encourage Saudi Arabia to speed up action in this regard.
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