In 2023, Saudi Arabia witnessed a notable presence on the regional and international stages politically and diplomatically.
The Kingdom played host to a multitude of high-profile summits and meetings, providing a platform for the deliberation of diverse global crises and challenges.
This marked a significant contribution to the political discourse, reflecting Saudi commitment to addressing pressing issues at both regional and global levels.
Considered by observers as the dawn of a new era in Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical vision, Riyadh adeptly navigated through several crises in the region and around the world.
At the outset of the year, the Kingdom swiftly and professionally evacuated thousands of civilians and diplomats due to the sudden escalation of the Sudanese crisis in April.
In a surprising development in March, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the unexpected resumption of diplomatic relations.
Both nations declared the reopening of their embassies and consulates, facilitated under the auspices of Chinese mediation.
This unexpected diplomatic shift marked a significant development in the geopolitical landscape of the region, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the two countries.
While the Kingdom witnessed several important international summits and meetings in the remaining months of the year, July featured four significant gatherings.
These included a Saudi-Japanese summit, a Saudi-Turkish summit in Jeddah, followed by a consultative Gulf summit and a summit with the five Central Asian countries (C5).
Furthermore, in August, Saudi Arabia hosted a Jeddah meeting on the Ukrainian crisis, attended by national security advisers from around 40 countries.
Subsequently, in October, a historic summit unfolded—the first between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In response to the evolving situation in Palestinian territories, an extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit was convened in Riyadh in November.
The summit aimed to address and halt the Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Additionally, a Saudi-African summit was held, and the year concluded with a Saudi-Russian summit following the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
These diplomatic engagements underscored the Kingdom’s commitment to addressing regional challenges and fostering international partnerships.
Return of Saudi-Iranian Ties
In a joint statement, Riyadh, Tehran and Beijing affirmed commitment to respecting the sovereignty of states and refraining from interfering in their internal affairs.
Subsequently, Saudi Arabia and Iran reopened their respective embassies, officially initiating diplomatic missions.
Notably, President Ebrahim Raisi visited the Kingdom for the first time since the resumption of relations in November, participating in the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza.
Saudi Arabia Evacuates Thousands
Amid the sudden escalation of the situation in Sudan in April of last year, Saudi Arabia orchestrated a maritime initiative that garnered widespread international acclaim.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the evacuation of more than 5,000 individuals from 100 countries, including 184 Saudi nationals, from Sudan.
This effort commenced in mid-April, coinciding with the outbreak of hostilities between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces.
The initiative has been hailed as one of the largest and most successful global evacuation operations to date.
Saudi-Russian Summit
Prior to the end of 2023, Putin embarked on a significant visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
During their extensive meeting, the leaders focused on mutual interests and ongoing initiatives beneficial to both nations, the Middle East, and the global community.
Saudi Arabia and Russia underscored the imperative of halting military operations in Palestinian territories, emphasizing that achieving security and stability in Palestine is contingent upon implementing international resolutions related to the two-state solution.
They expressed deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Additionally, both nations affirmed their agreement to enhance defense and security cooperation.
In a joint statement, the two sides agreed on strengthening cooperation in the fields of petroleum and gas.
They emphasized the necessity for all participating countries in the OPEC agreement to adhere to commitments that serve the interests of producers and consumers, supporting global economic growth.
Moreover, they praised the successful efforts of the OPEC group in stabilizing global petroleum markets.
