As longterm partnership with US fades, Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its diplomacy – and recent deals with China, Iran and Russia fit this strategy
- Written by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Baker Institute Fellow for Kuwait, Rice University
Saudi Arabia, to the surprise of many, chose China to broker its deal with Iran in March 2023.Chinese Foreign Ministry/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImageThe fact that Saudi Arabia entered a rapprochement deal with Iran and chose China to broker it came as a surprise to many international observers.
The agreement, officially called the Joint Trilateral...





