The reestablishment of Saudi-Iranian ties through China’s mediation sparked a wave of criticism and speculation in the US over Beijing’s role and whether it can act as a viable ally to Riyadh. Soon after however, a senior White House official announced that a meeting was held between Americans and the Chinese in Vienna.
According to the Washington Post, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi. Sullivan reportedly informed Wang that the Biden administration had decided to overcome the spy balloon incident that had sparked a diplomatic crisis between Washington and Beijing, said the senior official.
The American official described the Vienna talks as “constructive” and “candid”. The meeting lasted eight hours spanning two days. It tackled combating drugs smuggling and regional security affairs, including Taiwan. Sullivan also brought up Ukraine and concerns that Beijing may be sending arms to Moscow.
Let us take a step back. The French president visited China not too long ago – specifically after the Saudi-Iranian deal was struck. He spoke of the role China can play in the Ukrainian crisis, notably since Beijing offered an initiative to resolve the conflict.
Now, Washington has decided to negotiate with China. Communication is at the heart of politics. You negotiate with rivals, not allies, to overcome any misunderstandings and ease the impact of crises. This is pragmatism, not a change in foreign policy or the elimination of problems.
I believe that the very concept of “eliminating problems” is a source of debate because politics isn’t about trial and error, but it is driven by interests. Politics is the art of what is possible and this is what the world’s superpower – the United States - has overlooked in spite of its endless line of experts.
The truth is that Washington hasn’t really abandoned its policy of “you are either with me or against me” that was launched by former President George W. Bush after the September 11 terrorist attacks. That view led to an American policy based on boycott and excessive sanctions and a diplomacy of brazenness.
I had previously explained to an influential American researcher that in this part of the world, meaning east Asia, brazenness is a form of demonizing the other and removing their legitimacy. Whoever fails to understand this error and danger is playing with fire.
The US National Security Adviser has acknowledged that China played a role between Riyadh and Tehran that Washington could never have assumed because it does not have ties with Iran. Now, he is turning to China, prioritizing diplomacy over boycott.
As we have said, you negotiate with rivals, not allies. This is exactly what Saudi Arabia did when it played the China card to negotiate with Iran. China played the role of rational mediator, who acts according to interests, and avoids threats and insults.
This is what Paris did with the Chinese and what Washington is now doing. This means that Riyadh has demonstrated to world capitals that another way besides escalation and threats is possible, that of diplomacy - the original silk road.
Saudi Arabia did so with pragmatism, the motives of which are being revealed day after day. Riyadh read the region through a rational lense. Just look at the situation in Iran and divisions in Türkiye and Israel. Now compare them with the numbers of growth in Saudi Arabia.
This is not propaganda, but fact, and it appears that the American administration has now realized this, which is a good thing.
