In his article about the US President’s efforts to broker a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a prominent New York Times columnist claimed that it would change the rules of the game in the region. Regardless of the “story” of peace, the rules of the game in the region have clearly totally changed.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz spearheaded this shift. Since the AlUla Agreement, the US-Gulf and US-Arab summits, then the Gulf-Arab summits with China, and most recently, the Arab Summit in Jeddah, regional dynamics have totally changed.
First and foremost, the Crown Prince first changed the rules of the game in the region, through the social and economic reforms undertaken in Saudi Arabia during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and under the direct and personal supervision of the Crown Prince.
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman changed the rules further through investments, projects, and initiatives that have made Saudi Arabia a reliable ally and a sought-after partner. All of this required and still requires continuous communication and bridge-building.
This is what the Crown Prince has done. That is why I have always argued that, under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has not been “zeroing out problems.” Rather, it is resetting relations because the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 has clear requirements.
The most prominent of these requirements is strengthening benefits, as well as building bridges of communication to form economic partnerships founded on shared interests, not grants. Instead of imposing political demands, the aim is to implement projects that benefit not only in Saudi Arabia but also across the region.
The Chinese card that Saudi Arabia regards highly allowed it to restore ties with Iran. Indeed, this was not a reckless gamble or an attempt to zero out all problems but a calculated effort to foster communication, minimize risks, and enhance opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, even if this is achieved through the Iranians seeing the progress the Kingdom has made when they visit Saudi Arabia, for example.
As is well-known, and as I have previously written, one does not engage in dialogue with friends but with enemies. Political differences are unavoidable, the relationships between London and Paris or Washington and Paris demonstrate. Indeed, London was recently furious over the rejection of a British candidate to lead NATO due to US opposition.
Nevertheless, the language of interests dominates. The Crown Prince speaks this language fluently in a region where wars erupt without justification, to say nothing about cutting ties. This approach bolsters development projects, ensures sustainability, and enhances opportunities for the people of the region.
Almost two years ago, the US administration was contemplating a total withdrawal from the region and turning Saudi Arabia into a “pariah” state. Today, Washington is seeking opportunities in Riyadh, which has broadened its horizons without severing ties with Washington.
The regional shifts that Saudi Arabia has spearheaded under the Crown Prince’s leadership have given Saudi Arabia its natural standing back. They have transformed the country into an investment hub and a reliable partner. This success was not achieved by merely “zeroing out problems” but by zeroing out isolation and insularity.
This renewed communication will not necessarily lead to complete integration or harmony among the states of the region. Rather, the crucial thing is to reduce escalation, create new prospects for investment, and reinforce stability. This is precisely what Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has done and continues to pursue.
