Saudi Arabia/Iran Partnership Brokered by China Heralds New Era

Is a geopolitical earthquake shaking the Middle East?

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash.

“Saudi Arabia, Iran Restore Relations in Deal Brokered by China,” was the bombshell report in the Wall Street Journal on March 10, 2023. The deal, which no one in President Joe Biden’s State Department had a hand in, came as quite a shock to the international community and foreign policy analysts.

Not only did two embittered, powerful regional enemies — agree to mend fences after years of tension and diplomatic isolation, the deal was brokered by the Chinese Communist Party — a relatively new player in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

China has become an increasingly important player in Middle Eastern politics in recent years, particularly in terms of its economic and diplomatic relations with the region.

China is the world’s second-largest economy and has been aggressively pursuing economic ties with Middle Eastern countries. The region is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas, and China is a major importer of these resources. China has also invested heavily in infrastructure projects in the region, including ports, railways, and roads.

The Chinese Communist Party has also sought to deepen its diplomatic ties with Middle Eastern countries in recent years. It has played a…