For both Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the recent Arab League summit (Amman, March 23-29, 2017) was an important event. Both countries sought to use the summit to reinforce their regional status, as well as to regulate their bilateral relations and highlight the gathering as a demonstration of inter-Arab solidarity. The Israeli government supports the idea of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute within a broad regional framework, where Jordan will play a key role. Therefore, renewed dialogue and coordination between Jordan and...
There are growing indications that efforts to reduce the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are underway. The most recent one was the arrival of the Kuwaiti foreign minister in Tehran on January 25, 2017 for a meeting with the Iranian president. The foreign minister brought with him a letter expressing the willingness of the Arab Gulf states to begin a “strategic dialogue” with Iran. Although complete details of the initiative were not disclosed, it included an invitation to begin negotiations based on good neighborly relations,...
From China’s perspective, enhanced relations with the Saudi kingdom address a variety of interests. From Saudi Arabia’s perspective, China constitutes a stable and reliable strategic partner that complements the kingdom’s strategic relations with the United States, mainly on economic and political dimensions, and without the unpleasant Western criticism on issues relating to human rights and democratization. Thus, both countries are finding a common comfort zone in mutual respect of their sovereignties without trying to change each...
In recent years, the United Arab Emirates has positioned itself as a key player in the processes shaping the region. After dealing with potential threats at home, the federation took a leading role in contending with some of the political, economic, and military challenges posed by the Arab Spring. The UAE will likely continue to use its vast economic resources and its military might to attempt to influence the direction that the Arab world is taking. In the past, the UAE exhibited moderation and restraint in its foreign relations...
At their November 30, 2016 meeting in Vienna, the OPEC oil ministers decided to reduce exports from OPEC states by 1.2 million barrels per day. Soon after, states that are not members of OPEC also decided to reduce their oil exports. The impact of these two decisions, which will take effect on January 1, 2017, was immediate. The price of a barrel of oil rose by some 15 percent, and some predict that in the coming months prices will soar at an even faster rate. The cuts to daily production will not apply to Iran, so its profits from...
The challenges facing Riyadh, include the dwindling of Saudi Arabia’s income resulting from the drop in oil prices, Islamic terrorism in its own territory, the military intervention in Yemen, and hostile relations with Iran. Israeli decision makers must monitor these sources of instability, while making an effort to foster ties with Riyadh based on common regional interests. At the same time Israel should recognize that as long as the internal Saudi arena is unstable, and especially as long as the deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian...
The article discusses developments in the global oil market and their effects on the Middle East. The essay notes that while the drop in oil prices has a positive effect on the Israeli economy, natural gas prices are also affected by oil prices, and the fall in energy prices will consequently have a negative effect on the development of the natural gas fields for export purposes. In addition, the subject of Israeli gas exports involves many different political issues in Israel and the greater region, as well as security...
In late November 2016, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian armed forces announced to commanders of the Iranian fleet that Iran may establish naval bases in the future far from its shores, on islands or as floating bases, and that one day it may be possible to have bases on the shores of Yemen or Syria. These remarks reflect Iran’s fundamental hegemonic aspirations in the Middle East and, in some respects, beyond. In concrete terms, Iran is translating its hegemonic aspirations into efforts to establish its centrality as a regional...
On April 25, 2016, Saudi Arabia officially unveiled its ambitious economic plan: “Saudi Vision 2030.” The plan represents a set of laudable goals and measures that are economically essential and critical to the kingdom’s long term survival. Yet while it is premature to assess the plan’s prospects for success, the goal of substantially reducing the dependence on oil by 2020 is highly doubtful. The main challenges to the plan concern the need to open the closed and conservative Saudi economy, and adapt it to the rules of a modern...
During Saudi King Salman’s 5-day visit to Cairo, which began on April 7, 2016, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed a series of agreements on a range of topics, reflecting stronger bilateral coordination and involving a total sum of some $25 billion. For Israel, the most significant agreement authorized the transfer of the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Straits of Tiran from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. This was perceived in Egypt and throughout the Arab world as payment for the massive aid Egypt has already received and expects to...
Saudi Arabia’s declared objective, driven in part by sectarian fervor, is to stop Iran’s growing influence in the region. To those in charge of making the necessary adjustments to Saudi Arabia’s security and foreign policy in light of regional developments, Turkey is a key player. From Riyadh’s perspective, Turkey is a Sunni regional power that has not realized its potential because it has failed to adopt a more aggressive policy toward Iran. For Turkey, Russia’s military involvement in Syria and the crisis in Turkish-Russian...
Over the course of January 2016, a series of meetings took place between the Saudi and Pakistani political and security leaderships. In these meetings, the Pakistanis stressed their commitment to preserve the security and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia regards Pakistan, which shares a 909-kilometer border with Iran, as an important asset in restraining Iranian influence. Pakistan has the world’s largest Muslim army and is the only Muslim nuclear power, which Riyadh regards as a force multiplier and support in times of...
