From an oil power with a strong economy, Saudi Arabia is emerging as an important diplomatic center, playing a mediating role in regional and international conflicts.
That is the opinion of Mr. Sergio Cantone, Head of Euronews 's Eastern Europe office, in a new article posted on Euronews 's website, right before the meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations in the capital Riyadh, discussing the positions of the parties involved in the Ukraine peace negotiations (March 11).
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| The article "From oil nation to diplomatic power: Saudi Arabia emerges as a global mediator" was published on Euronews on March 7. (Screenshot) |
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Riyadh on March 10, a day ahead of planned peace talks between senior Ukrainian and US officials. This will be the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the tense debate between President Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump in the Oval Office earlier this month, according to Euronews .
Riyadh has long been an Arab powerhouse thanks to its abundant oil resources, strong economy and political stability in a volatile region. As a result, the country is emerging as a major player in global diplomacy, becoming an effective mediator in resolving conflicts around the world.
Oil power
Oil diplomacy is one reason for Riyadh’s rise. Along with the United States and Russia, Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s leading crude oil producers. In fact, Riyadh played a key role in the recent agreement by the eight-nation OPEC+ group to increase crude oil production from April 2025.
The move contributed to a drop in oil prices this week and met a request from Donald Trump, who said on January 24 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that low oil prices could help end the conflict in Ukraine and said he would ask Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries to take action.
Author Sergio Cantone quotes Professor Raffaele Marchetti (LUISS University, Rome): “We are witnessing a cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States to rebalance the world order by using oil as a common good with broader political goals.”
Invest heavily in security
Saudi Arabia has a central role in the Middle East, from decision-making and post-war reconstruction in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, to containing Iran and its proxies.
In the early 2000s, the Saudi monarchy faced a serious threat from radical Islamist terrorism led by Osama bin Laden, culminating in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Since then, Riyadh has invested heavily in its security policy and strengthened its external position.
According to Mr. Yves Aubin de la Messuzière, former French Ambassador to Tunisia, the change in the Arab world has led to a shift of power from Egypt, Syria and Iraq to the Gulf states. He commented: “Saudi Arabia possesses all the elements of power: strong economic potential, vast territory, 30 million people and a position of religious leadership in the global Sunni Muslim community.”
Last month, Riyadh announced it would increase its defense budget to nearly 75 billion euros this year, up nearly 3 billion euros from last year. That represents 7.1 percent of GDP, putting the country among the world's top five defense spenders.
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| Members of the Saudi Arabian forces take part in a military parade in preparation for the Hajj pilgrimage in the city of Mecca. (Source: AP) |
International recognition
Thanks to its balanced foreign policy, Saudi Arabia has maintained close relations with blocs such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the BRICS, and key allies such as the United States, thereby playing a mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to former EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Luigi Narbone, hosting important international negotiations has brought significant political benefits to the country.
“The US and Russia chose to meet in Saudi Arabia because there are few countries qualified to play the role of host,” explained Michael Harris, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Riyadh maintains a cooperative relationship with Moscow despite regional differences with Tehran, while continuing to assert its role as a stabilizer in a volatile Middle East.
Cautious on the Palestinian issue
The US wants Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords to establish relations with Israel, but Riyadh insists that any agreement must take into account the prospect of a Palestinian state. According to former ambassador Yves Aubin de la Messuzière, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pursues a pragmatic policy, while King Salman Al Saud has always paid special attention to Palestine, especially on religious issues.
In addition, Riyadh also carefully considers public reactions to important political decisions, because the majority of the country's population is young and very interested in the Palestinian situation.
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As Riyadh prepares to host talks between the United States and Ukraine on how to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, observers are once again referring to Saudi Arabia as a reliable diplomatic hub in the world. With a balanced diplomatic strategy and a long-term vision, the oil kingdom is asserting its position not only as an economic power but also as an important player on the international geopolitical chessboard.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/saudi-arabia-trung-tam-ngoai-giao-dang-tin-cay-cua-the-gioi-306990.html
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