Negotiating for Syria's reentry into the Arab League would feed into Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s "desire to portray himself as a regional statesman" and "underline the Saudi ability to lead the region," said fellow Kristian Ulrichsen.
A recent intelligence leak revealed Russian operatives boasted about convincing the UAE to team up against U.S. & British intel agencies. Ties between Russia & the UAE have strengthened since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, fellow Kristian Ulrichsen said.
Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Salman “realize their focus is going to be heavily domestic for the next few years,” as the kingdom carries out an ambitious plan to modernize the country by 2030, including diversifying its economy, said fellow Kristian Ulrichsen.
Saudi Arabia & Iran have regained diplomatic relations. Fellow Kristian Ulrichsen says this decrease in tension was led by Saudi’s recognition that “without unconditional U.S. backing they were unable to project power vis-a-vis Iran and the rest of the region.”
"Further regional instability is not in Saudi or Iranian interest at the moment," said fellow Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the restored ties between Saudi-Iran. "And for the Chinese to have addressed this at a time when the U.S. stance toward Iran is becoming more hawkish sends a powerful signal in itself."