Xi is set to visit KSA despite OPEC-related US threats
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China's President is set to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following an earlier statement by the kingdom in which it voiced its interest in joining BRICS.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman (Reuters)
Days after winning a third term in office, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), according to the country's foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan.
The Kingdom's Foreign Minister, after speaking to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, praised the "historical and solid relationship" the two countries have shared.
According to bin Faisal, Saudi Arabia is "finalizing arrangements" for summit talks bringing China and Arab countries closer together.
When questioned by AFP about Xi's anticipated visit, the Chinese embassy in Saudi Arabia remained silent, and the Chinese FM said that the embassy has "no information to share" on the subject at this time.
Following the OPEC+ debacle, KSA seeks to join BRICS
Earlier in October, the 13-nation OPEC+ and its 10 allies infuriated the White House by resolving to cut output by two million barrels per day beginning in November, fueling fears that oil prices may spike.
"I'm not going to get into what I'd consider and what I have in mind. But there will be -- there will be consequences," US President Joe Biden told CNN.
Biden would not specify which choices were being evaluated, although the White House had previously stated that Biden was reassessing connections between allies.
Despite the OPEC+ debacle with the US, KSA has voiced its aspiration to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), a move Chinese experts regard as a blow to Washington's "oil for security" approach to the Gulf.
South Africa's local radio station ABC reported on October 18, citing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's Prime Minister, "did express Saudi Arabia's desire to be part of BRICS," and that Saudi Arabia is "not the only country" interested in joining BRICS.
According to Reuters, Ramaphosa visited Saudi Arabia last week and inked agreements and memorandums of understanding worth around $15 billion. In 2023, South Africa will hold the rotating BRICS presidency.
Saudi Arabia's reaffirmed interest in joining BRICS came at a time when the kingdom is embroiled in a diplomatic spat with the US over oil output.
Chinese expert comments on Saudi Arabia's interest in BRICS
According to a Beijing-based international relations expert who requested anonymity, the US intended for KSA to listen to its directives and satisfy its demands, but the unfolding of events clearly indicated that Washington had overplayed its hand.
According to the analyst, the US is selfish in its dealings with KSA, and "the idea of joining BRICS shows Saudi Arabia's growing autonomy in its diplomacy with Washington."
The expert further noted that "joining BRICS will also protect Saudi Arabia's own energy interests in a substantive way, rather than being a card to be used by others."
As stated by the Beijing-based expert "If Saudi Arabia joins BRICS, it would be a promotion to the Middle East countries to strengthen their ties with BRICS countries and weaken the intervention and influence of the US in the area."
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