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Text: Xu Xu.
Edited by Xu Xu.
The United States has always regarded itself as the "dominant power" in the Middle East. However, in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its role appears somewhat impotent.
In order to force the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the United States did not hesitate to threaten Saudi Arabia. Such an act would undoubtedly further damage U.S. influence in the Middle East, while also presenting significant opportunities for China.
The painstaking work of the White House
The United States has not hesitated to threaten to reconsider its bilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, with the aim of forcing Saudi Arabia to make concessions to Israel by getting Saudi Arabia to exert pressure on it.
Why is this happening?
However, the selfishness of the United States alone may make it difficult to bring Israel to its knees.
In fact, before the Israeli attack on the Gaza city of Rafah, the Biden administration had repeatedly dissuaded the Netanyahu government and even suspended military aid to Israel. However, with little success, the Israeli side remained stubborn.
Israel and Palestine have been at odds for a long time. As a "hardcore ally" of the United States in the Middle East, Israel has long turned a blind eye to the rights of the Palestinians, coupled with its radical behavior in building Jewish settlements, which has made it difficult to resolve the contradictions between the two sides.
Although the United States has repeatedly called on Israel to respect international law and stop the expansion of illegal settlements. However, the Israeli side has ignored it and has regularly launched military strikes on Gaza cities.
In this case, the United States' diplomatic means also seem to be stretched. Therefore, the White House can only "borrow" Saudi Arabia, hoping that with the help of Saudi influence, it can influence Israel's decision-making.
"If Israel refuses to make concessions to the Palestinians, then the United States will also reconsider the bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia." — U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
Naturally, this move by the United States has aroused widespread concern and comments from all walks of life.
Some analysts believe that the US move is an attempt to force Israel to make concessions on the Palestinian issue at the expense of relations with Saudi Arabia. However, this practice is tantamount to "naked strangle" and harms US interests in the Middle East.
Some people also pointed out that the United States did not hesitate to offend Saudi Arabia this time, probably because it was worried that its influence in the Middle East would further decline. Therefore, it had to come up with a "killer feature".
Fundamentally, the U.S. move reflects the waning influence of the United States in the Middle East. On the one hand, Israel, as an ally of the United States, is increasingly acting independently and no longer completely subordinate to the United States. On the other hand, the United States' threat to Saudi Arabia has also exposed its anxiety about "ganging up" with Middle Eastern countries.
The reason why the United States does not hesitate to offend Saudi Arabia is precisely because it is worried about its influence in the Middle East.
It has felt the growing influence of emerging powers such as China and Russia in the region, which has led to an unprecedented challenge to its dominance in the region.
At the same time, China's influence in the Middle East is indeed expanding.
In recent years, China has made great progress in economic and trade exchanges and energy cooperation with many Middle Eastern countries. In addition, China's Belt and Road Initiative is very attractive to countries in the region.
In the military field, China's weapons and equipment are increasingly favored by Middle Eastern countries. There are reports that Saudi Arabia was once interested in introducing Chinese 052D missile destroyers. Although there is no official confirmation, this reflects the popularity of Chinese weapons in the Middle East market.
"Saudi Arabia has money, but are you afraid that you won't be able to buy weapons? In recent years, the relationship between China and Middle Eastern countries has deepened, and many Chinese-made weapons and equipment have also successfully entered the Middle East market and have been well received. "
If the U.S. threat to Saudi Arabia is put into action, or if the Saudi royal family encounters "accidents" as a result, once the relationship between the two sides breaks down, Saudi Arabia will completely lose its "pillar" status in the Middle East, and may even be marginalized by other countries.
Out of consideration for safeguarding its own interests, Saudi Arabia is likely to have to rely on the strength of China, Russia and other major powers as a "backing" to confront the United States.
At that time, China will further expand its influence in the region. If Saudi Arabia chooses to introduce Chinese weapons and equipment, it will play a great role in promoting the development of China's national defense and military industry.
Netizen comments
This incident quickly aroused heated discussions among netizens on the Internet, and some netizens believed:
As a superpower in the world, the United States has always pointed fingers at the Middle East, and its approach is indeed somewhat aggressive. We should criticize the United States' blatant threat to Saudi Arabia.
The world is no longer the era when the United States is the only one. With the rise of emerging powers such as China and Russia, the influence of the United States is gradually being weakened. If Saudi Arabia does turn to China and Russia for cooperation, it will further shake the dominant position of the United States in the Middle East.
Some netizens also think:
Although the United States is in danger of losing influence in the Middle East, it is, after all, a traditional power. The Middle East is far from the Chinese civilization, and many countries still have doubts about the national strength and intentions of emerging powers such as China. Therefore, even if the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States is tense now, it will be difficult to completely turn away from the United States and rely solely on emerging powers such as China in the future.
Some netizens think:
As a responsible major country, China should never act rashly to sow discord between Saudi Arabia and the United States, otherwise it will lead to greater regional chaos. China should continue to play a constructive role in alleviating contradictions and conflicts in the Middle East and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Summarize the significance
To sum up, the US threat to Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly a "wise move". It not only harms America's own interests in the Middle East, but also creates opportunities for emerging powers such as China to expand their influence in the region.
If Saudi Arabia finally chooses to "break up" with the United States and move closer to China, Russia and other countries, it will have a profound impact on the geopolitical landscape. At that time, the dominance of the United States in the Middle East will inevitably be seriously impacted.
For China, this is undoubtedly an unprecedented and significant opportunity. If Saudi Arabia really introduces Chinese weapons and equipment, it will greatly promote the development of China's military industry.
Therefore, there is reason to be optimistic about this event. As the saying goes, "the heavens will descend on the people, and they must first suffer their minds." As long as China maintains its strategic focus and continues to adhere to the path of peaceful development, it will certainly be able to take advantage of the momentum and play a more important role in the Middle East issue.