Whereas Saudi Arabia and China have both experienced strained ties with Washington over their support for the war in Ukraine and human rights issues, Saudi-Chinese ties have gone from strength to strength. This was most recently illustrated by plans for the Kingdom to host a China-Arab summit during Xi Jinping’s visit on 9 December. This attitude was also epitomised by MBS’s refusal to take phone calls with President Biden at the onset of the war in Ukraine in March 2022. Knowing that Biden would request an increase in oil production to lower international prices, MBS put Saudi Arabia’s national interests above those of the United States. As custodian of the two holy mosques and with the fastest growing economy in the G20, Saudi Arabia is also vital to US regional and international interests, especially vis-à-vis the Abraham Accords with Israel.

Source: Washington Post January 12, 2023 10:46 UTC