US push for a Saudi-'Israel' deal is all about China: Bloomberg
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The US is pushing for a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and "Israel" to challenge China's growing influence in the region.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (AP)
US President Joe Biden's strategic moves in the Middle East are being painted as a maneuver to counter China's growing influence, marking a significant policy shift, according to Bloomberg.
The newsletter wrote that the attempt to normalize relations between "Israel" and Saudi Arabia, seemingly for the sake of Middle East peace, is actually an effort to curb China's sway in a pivotal region.
This initiative underscores the extent to which the US is willing to invest to prevent Saudi Arabia from falling under China's sphere of influence. Despite the ongoing talk of the US pivoting towards Asia, this reveals the enduring significance of the Middle East in global geopolitics, according to Bloomberg.
US guarantees for KSA, "Israel"
In recent months, the Biden administration has been discreetly exploring the potential for Saudi-Israeli normalization, and speculation surged after Biden's conversation with New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman in late July.
To cater to Saudi Arabia, the US aims to assist with the development of a civilian nuclear program, provide access to advanced American weaponry, and offer a written security guarantee akin to NATO's "Article 5" commitment. In a bid to entice Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington will enhance security assurances and deliver cutting-edge armaments, according to Bloomberg.
Read next: US doubts Israeli-Saudi normalization agreement possible: NYT
In exchange for assuring Saudi Arabia's security, Biden intends to limit the kingdom's ties with China, according to Bloomberg, likely by restricting technological connections and securing assurances that de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman won't establish Chinese bases in the Gulf.
While the Biden administration sees itself aligning democracies against China, this narrative isn't universally accepted. Many nations beyond the Western sphere don't perceive China as a significant military threat and reject the binary "democracy versus autocracy" dichotomy.
Sino-Saudi relations on the rise
Saudi Arabia has adeptly leveraged this divergence. During President Xi Jinping's visit in 2022, Saudi Arabia collaborated with Huawei Technologies Co., a company seen as linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Saudis even explored pricing oil in yuan and engaged in discussions about a substantial arms deal with China. King Salman sought Xi's mediation to restore relations with Iran, extending China's diplomatic influence in the Middle East.
The potential grand bargain with Saudi Arabia, though ambitious, faces numerous hurdles. Netanyahu has reasons to maintain his coalition, while the kingdom might prolong negotiations in hopes of striking a better deal with a future Republican president.
Read next: Xi intervened 'personally' in Saudi-Iran agreement: Wang Di
Amid the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Western Pacific, the Pentagon is hesitant to make fresh commitments in the Middle East, highlighting the US military's stretched resources. Despite aspirations of pivoting away from the Middle East, its strategic significance remains, shaping Washington's priorities, according to Bloomberg.
Whether as an energy source or a theater of great-power rivalry, the Middle East consistently resurfaces on the US agenda, defying attempts to disengage. This region, while often viewed as a realm to leave behind, maintains its prominence on the global stage.
