As diplomatic tensions ease following past controversies, Saudi Arabia's importance in international negotiations has surged – especially with potential talks involving former President Trump concerning Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia: The Emerging Venue for Trump’s Ukraine Talks
Saudi Arabia: The Emerging Venue for Trump’s Ukraine Talks
Discussions on the Ukraine conflict highlight Saudi Arabia's shifting diplomatic status from pariah to key player on the global stage.
Saudi Arabia's selection as the venue for crucial discussions regarding the Ukraine situation signals significant diplomatic progress for the Kingdom, which had faced escalating scrutiny after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The fallout from that incident placed the country under a suffocating cloud of international condemnation, particularly towards Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, the recent dynamics suggest a considerable shift as Saudi Arabia strives to establish itself as a major global actor.
Under the Biden administration, Saudi Arabia has recalibrated its foreign policy, diminishing its reliance on the US as the pivotal ally. This divergence has led to closer relations with nations viewed as rivals to America, including Russia and China, forging a new era characterized by pragmatic diplomacy.
The prospect of former President Donald Trump returning to office has brewed a welcoming climate in Riyadh. Trump’s administration, marked by its transactional nature, aligns well with Saudi objectives. Notably, his first foreign visit during his first term was to the Kingdom, emphasizing a keen interest in solidifying mutual interests.
A primary goal for Trump could be to negotiate a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, thereby completing the ambitions set forth during the Abraham Accords—a campaign he initiated in his first term. While recent hostilities in Gaza could obstruct this mission, they equally present new conditions under which Saudi Arabia may reevaluate its terms for peace.
The Kingdom has officially dismissed Trump’s controversial proposal for Gaza, which involved displacing Palestinian residents for redevelopment. Instead, it seeks to collaborate with fellow Arab states to pave a pragmatic alternative that sustains Gazan inhabitants while pursuing a two-state solution. The differing stances on Gaza and the West Bank between Trump and Saudi leadership will require careful navigation to maintain an evolving partnership.
Looking afield, Saudi Arabia is set on an ambitious path to cement its status as a vital player in global diplomacy, and it shows no signs of retreating from this trajectory.
Under the Biden administration, Saudi Arabia has recalibrated its foreign policy, diminishing its reliance on the US as the pivotal ally. This divergence has led to closer relations with nations viewed as rivals to America, including Russia and China, forging a new era characterized by pragmatic diplomacy.
The prospect of former President Donald Trump returning to office has brewed a welcoming climate in Riyadh. Trump’s administration, marked by its transactional nature, aligns well with Saudi objectives. Notably, his first foreign visit during his first term was to the Kingdom, emphasizing a keen interest in solidifying mutual interests.
A primary goal for Trump could be to negotiate a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, thereby completing the ambitions set forth during the Abraham Accords—a campaign he initiated in his first term. While recent hostilities in Gaza could obstruct this mission, they equally present new conditions under which Saudi Arabia may reevaluate its terms for peace.
The Kingdom has officially dismissed Trump’s controversial proposal for Gaza, which involved displacing Palestinian residents for redevelopment. Instead, it seeks to collaborate with fellow Arab states to pave a pragmatic alternative that sustains Gazan inhabitants while pursuing a two-state solution. The differing stances on Gaza and the West Bank between Trump and Saudi leadership will require careful navigation to maintain an evolving partnership.
Looking afield, Saudi Arabia is set on an ambitious path to cement its status as a vital player in global diplomacy, and it shows no signs of retreating from this trajectory.
