“The mile high view of the priority bills underscores the two different Republican parties that coexist in Texas, one on the center-right and one on the right,” said fellow Mark P. Jones of the contrast in Dan Patrick and Dade Phelan’s priority lists.
“It’s not like Saudi Arabia isn’t fully conscious that even a Chinese guarantee has its limits,” said fellow Yasmine Farouk of China's involvement in the Saudi-Iran pact. “The Saudis have learned, over the past few years, very hard lessons, one of those being we have to continue in the diversification of our relationships.”
"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."
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.”
As Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablish ties, when it comes to defense and security, Saudi officials are not looking to replace the U.S. with China. “Riyadh still thinks in English,” fellow Yasmine Farouk told the New York Times. "But after years of feeling that the United States has become a less reliable ally, the Saudis are expanding their alliances wherever they can."